If there’s anyone who epitomizes doing it all, it’s TLU junior Jessica Moulton! In addition to being a mother, she is an Integrated Science and Environmental Biology double major. Additionally, as a Biology Greenhouse associate, SURE Peer Academic Coach, CSL Volunteer Event Coordinator, EnAct Club President, EnAct Club Education and Action Coordinator, Pre-Health Professions Club member, and First-Generation Organization member, calling her “involved” would be an understatement. With her two biggest passions being healthcare and the environment, she had the following to say on the selection of these very rigorous majors:
“Initially, I was a biology major, but during a summer research presentation, I learned that the Integrated Science degree plan was specifically designed for students aiming to pursue medical school. However, recognizing the competitive and challenging nature of becoming a doctor, I decided to add Environmental Biology as a major to diversify my knowledge and skills. This decision allows me to hone my knowledge and skills in a field where I am confident I can find a stable and fulfilling career.”
As an Integrated Science major myself, it’s always been inspiring to witness her bounce between various meetings, events, and classes. In those moments where I begin to doubt my abilities or feel overwhelmed by my workload, remembering her experience really helps me to put my own responsibilities into perspective. By getting through biology and chemistry classes, partaking in research experiences, and representing several student organizations, she serves as an example to other parents with similar aspirations. It goes to show that as long as you have support and a persevering attitude, there’s never a bad time to work towards your goals. On her STEM experience, Jessica says:
“I think my experiences as a STEM student have impacted so many aspects of my family life. For example, microbiology class has impacted the way I prepare meals for my family and has made me more conscientious about preventing foodborne illnesses. Dr. Sauncy’s “Race, Identity, and STEM” course taught me the significance of diversity and equity, and as a result, I am committed to raising my daughter with an awareness of social justice and the importance of embracing and respecting differences. My responsibilities as a parent have definitely influenced my experiences as well. Because of the surprises and unexpected hurdles that come with life and parenthood, I feel that I handle my stress, mistakes, and shortfalls better than some of my peers, which is particularly helpful in challenging classes.”
Despite the confidence she moves with now, the start of this chapter in Jessica’s life came with a lot of stress and uncertainty. In feeling tired of working multiple jobs to support her family, she realized that she desired a career her family could be proud of and feel secure with. After applying and getting accepted to UTSA, the realization that her daily commute would be unreasonable led her to apply to TLU.
“I was terrified to start college! I had been out of school for so long that I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep up with everyone else. Initially, I was denied acceptance to TLU, which imposed a sense of “I don’t belong here” when I first started. To make matters more challenging, I began the semester almost two weeks late, which meant I had to catch up on all the missed coursework. On top of that, I greatly overloaded my schedule by taking 16 course hours while attempting to work full-time off-campus. The combination of these factors made my first semester incredibly stressful and overwhelming. I often doubted my ability to succeed and questioned whether I had made the right decision. However, with the support and encouragement of my family, I persevered. Over time, I became more aware of my limitations and capabilities. I learned to manage my time more effectively, take fewer courses, and seek help when needed. Now I am much more confident in my ability to navigate college life and achieve a degree in STEM.”
For all students, there will always be aspects of college life that make earning a degree quite difficult. In Jessica’s case, factors such as the expense, occasional transportation uncertainties, and missing class to care for her child and older relatives tend to make some days harder than others. In the same breath, resources such as SI sessions, summer research, career development training, and flexible job opportunities help her to feel supported and up to speed with her peers.
“What makes me feel the most supported is the culture of compassion and understanding. We are also in the process of starting a student-parent club in order to provide additional support to caregivers. A couple of things that I think TLU could do to ease the challenges faced by student parents is to allow us early access during course registration periods so that we can take advantage of online courses and ensure that our class schedule will be compatible with our children’s schedules. It would also benefit students if the TLU attendance policy would afford students a certain number of sick days, with a doctor’s note, so that we can care for ourselves and our children without the risk of being drop/failed from our classes.”
One of the most important things I gathered from Jessica’s experience is her ability to not get stuck choosing her family life over college life, and vice versa. By using extracurricular activities as a point of connection between her and her family, she feels she has shown her daughter the importance and enrichment of community involvement and a college education. Additionally, a lesson Jessica learned from Dr. Sycora Wilson is to combine family time with academics. Rather than prioritizing one of the two, involving her daughter in her studies has been a point of bonding.
“I used to feel selfish for choosing homework over play time, but now that I get my daughter involved with my studies, I feel proud and accomplished. We read together, do flashcards together, and color diagrams together. Even though she probably won’t remember all the nitty-gritty details, this helps build her foundation in STEM and improves my understanding of hard concepts because I have to be able to explain them in a way a child would understand.”
As Jessica continues to work towards these two amazing degrees, she serves as a role model to other parents on campus. No matter how big your ambitions may seem, or how daunting accomplishing them may appear, students like her highlight the fact that your circumstances can work to your advantage, rather than limit you.
“After I graduate, my plan is to apply to several medical schools in hopes of gaining acceptance to an MD program, where I can make a meaningful impact on the health and wellness of my community and loved ones. Alternatively, I aim to continue my involvement in environmental research, focusing on the intersection of healthcare and botany. By integrating my knowledge in both fields, I will contribute to the advancement of medical science. Regardless of where my path leads me, I’m confident that the knowledge and skills I’ve gained at TLU will provide me a strong foundation for achieving these goals and making a positive difference in the world.”
A special thanks to Jessica Moulton for being a part of this series. Alongside the other moms who have been so kind to share their stories, the impact they will leave goes far beyond simply representing TLU well. By showing that working towards a career and raising children aren’t impossible to manage, other parents who are considering similar paths can see, firsthand, that personal goals should not end when a family starts.
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