As college students, getting through each week can often feel like a matter of survival (especially as we enter finals season). Though it’s emphasized that being organized is key to avoiding being overwhelmed by everything on your plate, it can be a difficult habit to put into practice. However, when you have the roles of both a student and a parent, there is no choice but to be disciplined and strategically plan when and how you will show up for yourself and your loved ones.

The importance of being detail-oriented is demonstrated excellently by Miranda McCarson, mom of two and TLU sophomore. Beyond just making it from one week to the next, she has mastered the art of not only succeeding academically, but making the most of her college experience while being a fantastic role model to her son and daughter.

Shortly after returning from the mid-semester break, Miranda shared the events of a week in her very busy life:

Notes from Miranda:

• My parents watch the kids overnight on Sunday nights and my mom takes them to daycare for me Monday mornings.
• Sometimes extenuating circumstances will arise and I will have my mother-in-law take/pickup the kids at daycare.
• For dinners I will often make separate dinners for the kids if me and Matt are having a dinner that is too spicy for them or I know they won’t like. I have a very detailed dinner planner on my laptop in OneNote with weekly meal plans that I put together that correlate with corresponding lists in my HEB app. That way I don’t have to put much thought into getting groceries, we just decide which meal plan we want for the week and the list is already made for that meal plan.
• We try to keep the kids on a strict sleep routine so bedtime is easier for them. Since they can’t tell time, they do well when they know what to expect in the evenings (their routine is consistent). That way we also get consistent down time in the evening hours after they go to bed.
• I also have a digital calendar in OneNote that I can access from my computer, iPad and phone that helps tremendously to keep me organized/make notes to myself.

Monday

• 6:30am: Wake up/ Get dressed/Do makeup
• Between 7-7:30am: Leave for school (I try to give myself some time before my first class to get coffee, check my email, and look over my planner)
• 8:00am: First class
• 9:00am: Second Class
• 10-1:00pm: Study/Homework + Lunch
• 1-4:00pm: Chemistry Lab
• 5:00pm: Pick up kids from daycare + Give them snacks; Do household chores
• 6:00pm: Kids’ dinner
• 6:30pm: Kids’ baths, brush teeth
• 7:00pm: Kids’ bedtime/Start making me and Matts dinner
• 7-8:00pm: More Studying/Homework/Household Chores
• 8-9:00pm: My shower, skincare, brush teeth, etc.
• 9-10:00pm: Watch TV/Bed time

Tuesday

• 6:00am: Wake up/Get dressed/Do makeup
• 6:30am: Get kids up + Get them dressed for daycare + Give their vitamins and breakfast
• 7:00am: Drop kids off at daycare
• Between 7-7:30am: Leave for school (coffee, check my email, and look over my planner)
• Between 8-8:30am: Arrive at school
• 8:30-10:30am: Study/Homework/Productivity Time
• 10:30-11:45am: First/Only Class
• 11:45-1:00pm: Lunch with friend group
• 1-5:00pm: Study/Homework/Household Chores
• 5:00pm: Pick up kids from daycare
• 6:00pm: Kids’ dinner
• 6:30pm: Kids’ baths, brush teeth
• 7:00pm: Kids’ bedtime/Start making me and Matts dinner
• 7-8:00pm: More Studying/Homework/Household Chores
• 8-9:00pm: My shower, skincare, brush teeth, etc.
• 9-10:00pm: Watch TV/Bed time

Wednesday

• 6:00am: Wake up/Get dressed/Do makeup
• 6:30am: Get kids up + Get them dressed for daycare + Give their vitamins and breakfast
• 7:00am: Drop kids off at daycare
• Between 7-7:30am: Leave for school (coffee, check my email, and look over my planner)
• 8:00am: First class
• 9:00am: Second class
• 10-11:00am: Workout
• 11-12:00pm: Lunch
• 12:00pm: Go Home
• 12-5:00pm: Study/Homework/Household chores
• 5:00pm: Pick up kids from daycare
• 6:00pm: Kids’ dinner
• 6:30pm: Kids’ baths, brush teeth
• 7:00pm: Kids’ bedtime/Start making me and Matts dinner
• 7-8:00pm: More Studying/Homework/Household Chores
• 8-9:00pm: My shower, skincare, brush teeth, etc.
• 9-10:00pm: Watch TV/Bed time

Thursday

• 6:00am: Wake up
• 6:30am: Get kids up + Get them dressed for daycare + Give their vitamins and breakfast
• 7:00am: Drop kids off at daycare
• Between 7-7:30am: Leave for school (coffee, check my email, and look over my planner)
• 8:30-10:30am: Study/Homework/Productivity Time
• 10:30-11:45am: First/Only Class
• 11:45-1:00pm: Go home and get cat for vet appointment
• 1:00pm: Cats vet appointment
• 2:00pm: Go home
• 2:30-5:00pm: Study/Homework/Household Chores
• 5:00pm: Pick up kids from daycare
• 6:00pm: Family dinner
• 6:30pm: Drive back to TLU for Beta Bonfire
• 7:00-8:30pm: Beta Bonfire
• 9:00pm: My shower, skincare, brush teeth, etc.
• 9-10:00pm: Watch TV/Bed time

Friday

• 6:00am: Wake up
• 6:30am: Get kids up + Get them dressed for daycare + Give their vitamins and breakfast
• 7:00am: Drop kids off at daycare
• Between 7-7:30am: Leave for school (coffee, check my email, and look over my planner)
• 8:00am: First class
• 9:00am: Second class
• 10-11:00am: Workout
• 11:30am: Go home
• 12:00pm: Lunch
• 12:30-5:00pm: Study/Homework/Household Chores
• 5:00pm: Pick up kids from daycare
• 6:00pm: Kids’ dinner
• 6:30pm: Kids’ baths, brush teeth
• 7:00pm: Kids’ bedtime/Start making me and Matts dinner
• 7-8:00pm: More Studying/Homework/Household Chores
• 8-9:00pm: My shower, skincare, brush teeth, etc.
• 9-10:00pm: Watch TV/Bedtime

Saturday

• 8:00am: Wake up
• 8:30am: Leave for work
• 9:00am-2:00pm: Work
• 2:30pm: Shower
• 3:00-5:30pm: Play with kids, House chores, Homework
• 6:00pm: Kids’ dinner or Family dinner
• 6:30pm: Kids’ baths, brush teeth
• 7:00pm: Kids’ bedtime/Start making me and Matts dinner if different from the kids
• 7-8:00pm: Free time
• 8-9:00pm: Skincare, brush teeth, etc.
• 9-10:00pm: Watch TV/Bedtime

Sunday

• 8:00am: Wake up
• 8:30am: Get kids up + Get them dressed for church + Give their vitamins and breakfast
• 9:00-10:30am: Put on TV for kids/ Make grocery list/ Get myself dressed + makeup
• 10:30am: Mother-in-law picks up kids and takes them to church then kids will spend the night at my parents house
• 11:00- 12:30pm: Me and Matt get coffee + breakfast and go to HEB for groceries
• 12:30pm: Put away groceries/ clean fridge
• 1:00pm: Meal prep my lunches/ general meal + snack prep for the week/ Free time
• 6:00pm: Cook dinner
• 7:00pm-9/10:00pm: Free time/Homework/Study

Biology major and Information Systems minor, Miranda’s journey to becoming a Bulldog started upon her going back and forth on returning to formal education while adjusting to motherhood, building a home, and enjoying her work as a dog groomer. Following a complicated dynamic with a previous employer, it became evident that it was time to explore other career possibilities:

MM: I had been thinking about going back to school because I was always good at school, whenever I was in school, and I knew I could do it. So I was like, okay, I need to find somewhere that’s close, and I emailed my old English teacher because I have her on Facebook. And she was like, “I went to TLU, and you can basically get it for dirt cheap if you have kids,” and you’re even- she was married, but since I wasn’t married, then it might even be more financial aid they would cover.

After applying, getting accepted, and touring the campus, she was ecstatic to turn over a new leaf. Her decision to enroll was made somewhat “on a whim,” but has ultimately been an amazing next step in her personal journey. Miranda’s initial worries regarding being an older student and getting back into the swing of school have subsided, thanks to her hard work and support system at home. Additionally, finding a sense of belonging both in her friend group and TLU’s STEM community have made her experience ever richer:

NB: I feel like you think, “Oh, if you’re going to be a parent AND you’re going to do school, those two things are only going to be your whole life.” But then when Lucy (mutual friend) is like, “I’m hanging out with Miranda,” I’m like, “Miranda?!” You have a whole friend group and a “normal” college life, which I think is so unique and really interesting, but also hard to do; though you seem really happy. So, I was going to ask, how did you get there and how did you find a set friend group, given your experience as a non-traditional student?

MM: So, I definitely had to work at that, because it was so easy to just come to school and go home, and not do anything else. But then I kind of met one person, forced myself to hang out with that person, and they introduced me to more people. Then, I just kind of got to know a bunch of people! But it’s so easy to just sit in the ASC and do work or whatever, or go hide somewhere and do your work instead of putting yourself out there. But I was like, “No, I’m forcing myself to talk to people and stuff.” And then, eventually, I just knew people.

To other non-traditional students who seek a social college life, she emphasizes the fact that such valuable connections won’t just fall into your lap. You have to push yourself to form and foster new friendships, though the fact that the TLU community is so accepting makes the task easier than expected. Ultimately, she finds that having people on your side is key. As far as being organized and taking care of yourself goes, Miranda says:

MM: I think that finding what works best for you, and then writing it down and being able to visualize your schedule, and scheduling “you time,” as well, is really helpful. You can get so caught up in school and your kids and your social life that you kind of neglect yourself. So, scheduling that stuff wherever you need, and really time blocking specific hours for just relaxing, is really helpful.

As Miranda McCarson continues to work towards her B.S., she is motivated by the neat career options and graduate-level possibilities which await her. Until then, there is no doubt that she will continue to inspire her family, friends, and peers along the way. To her fellow student-parents (and parents considering going back to school), she leaves them with the following words of motivation:

MM: It’s very hard, but it’s so worth it to stick with it. This is so cheesy, but just believe in yourself, because I think of my kids in the future; if my daughter ever wanted to, you know, go to college and stuff, just knowing that her mom did it… I’m gonna cry now. But just knowing that I did it, and that I did it for them; I want them to know that.