“Just keep swimming.”

What remains a memorable quote for Disney fans is the mantra of Rebecca Sanchez, a second-year pre-nursing student, mother of three, and exemplar of discipline. Despite her packed schedule (and the fact that she had a presentation to give later in the afternoon), this brilliant, dedicated student was so kind as to give her insight into juggling motherhood, academics, and everything in between. 

When reflecting on my first semester at TLU, I remember feeling a certain sense of gratitude that the only expectation placed upon me was to be as good a student as possible. Despite all of the stress that comes with pursuing an undergraduate degree and working toward a dream career, it’s a great privilege to only have yourself and your studies to worry about. Sometime last October, I was sitting in my FREX class, feeling anxious about an upcoming microbiology exam. Somewhere between attendance and letting my mind wander to the large quantity of flashcards I needed to make, the class was asked to share a win they had experienced that week. Preoccupied with just wanting to survive the week, I only half-listened to my peers while trying to think of something semi-interesting to contribute. 

Rebecca, who sat a row or two back from me, pulled me out of my thoughts after saying that she’d not only finished making her kids’ Halloween costumes, but had done really well on some assessment in her math course. At that moment, I felt a little guilty for pitying the singular, oh-so-exhausting task of studying for and doing well on an exam. Though we both had our own things to worry about and succeed in, she also had a family dependent on her for support, survival, and ensembles to don on Halloween night. With the same 24 hours in a day to check off all the boxes we create and are assigned to, Rebecca likely had about twice more to tend to than the average student. Yet, she was able to share such victories with a smile on her face, hitting each mark with a sense of readiness for whatever came next. A year later, she’s incredibly honest in sharing how difficult of an adjustment this period of time was. 

RS: I would say I went about it the whole wrong way, right? I thought since I had done really good in high school and stuff like that, that I was just gonna, like, fall into it easily… that was not the case. 

NB: Oh, how so? 

RS: I guess my study habits were not the same, and time management was not the same. I mean, just, with kids, it was just… yeah. It’s just difficult.

With a solid first year under her belt, Rebecca has established the rigid routine which makes tackling each week possible. Though staying organized is important for succeeding in college, it’s the lifeline of student-parents.

RS: So, we have to follow a strict schedule, like, wake up at six-thirty to get ready for school, drop off the kids by seven, seven-thirty, and then I have to get ready for class, right? So then I spend the whole day here, my kids come home around six p.m., and then it’s dinner → bedtime → more studying, kind of that thing. Because, I mean, I just have to put in extra study time when they’re at school.

NB: Goodness, when do you usually go to bed?

RS: Some days, it’s around one or two. Other days, it’s like, three or four, depending. And some days, I just have to call it a night at nine, because I just physically can’t anymore.

If there’s anything about her I can possibly relate to, it’s having a love for (and reliance upon) the sweet, sweet nectar of life: coffee. Though borderline-caffeine addictions are characteristic of most college students, they only go so far in helping one maintain the motivation to prep for quizzes or meet those 11:59 deadlines. So, when it’s all feeling a little bit impossible, it’s Rebecca’s family that makes the struggle feel worth it. Although she says the worst part of being a student-parent is sacrificing time that could be spent with her loved ones, there’s a sense of empowerment in knowing that she’s setting an example for her children. Now, she feels they understand that there’s no excuse for them not to go to college and work toward their ambitions.

RS: I think it’s just because of them. I see them watching me. I can’t, just, basically, give up and not give my 110% on everything, because they’re the ones that are watching me, and seeing, “Oh, mom, you got good grades in this, this, and this.” You know? I put in the work, and that was the outcome. 

Rebecca grew up in Denver City, Texas, and was set on attending Texas Tech to work toward becoming a pediatrician. Though she’s happy things didn’t go exactly as planned, and loves her life in Seguin, it took a lot of perseverance to reach this point in her life. Before coming to TLU, Rebecca worked a full-time job selling saddles and belt buckles for barrel racers, but found interest in becoming an EMT following the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though she completed and passed the necessary examinations, she’d never received word back on officially getting started in the profession. This roadblock presented a new interest in possibly returning to school, even though she’d been out for about five years.

Upon exploring this option, she’d planned on getting started in a radiology certification program, but the commute time to the one closest to her was far too great a hassle. It was this second letdown that prompted her boyfriend to suggest the possibility of starting a new job and moving to a new city, one in which Rebecca could attend college and really have an opportunity to study something she’s passionate about. This ultimately led the family to Seguin, with TLU and a nearby Alamo College as suitable options for pre-nursing students. Eventually, she settled on TLU, and has found the school to be a great fit for her since. 

Though she says being an older student has made her feel out of place on occasion, Rebecca notes that the environment has been nothing short of welcoming. It’s been easy to make conversation in classes, mainly due to the fact that everyone is friendly and happy to chat. When asked what advice, if any, she’d share with other student-parents/non-traditional students, she emphasized the importance of getting organized, as well as remembering that the future you’re working toward is well worth the struggle.

RS: My little thing is “just keep swimming;” I know it’s gonna get hard, and some days are gonna be difficult to even get through…a test, a class… but you just have to keep swimming! 

Rebecca Sanchez aims to have her official start in the nursing program next fall, and will fulfill her dream of caring for children in the medical field by specializing in pediatrics or labor and delivery. She’s been incredibly successful in staying on top of her work, and is excited to have recently been invited to TLU’s National Society of Leadership and Success chapter. With the fall and Thanksgiving breaks on the horizon, she looks forward to a possible family camping trip on the coast. Until then, there is no doubt that she will continue to be a stand-out student, parent, and future nurse. Best wishes to her as she continues to make progress in this challenging, though very rewarding, path!