When I found out I was pregnant with Matteo at age 18, I remember feeling like my opportunity for a future had completely collapsed. I didn't know how I would ever be able to go to college while raising a child, and I remember being really upset thinking about how I would never get to have a college experience. I had just graduated high school back home in New Jersey and had always planned on going to college.
When Matteo was born, my main focus was being a mom but after he turned one I decided to go to college. I started out part-time at my local community college, and I loved going to school. Eventually, I became a full-time student, graduated with my associate degree, and transferred to a large university in New Jersey.
However, between commuting, working, paying bills, and raising a young child, I just couldn't keep up with everything. Juggling all of the responsibilities of being a single parent while also trying to earn a degree is very hard without support from your college. I eventually stopped attending school so I could focus on working and supporting Matteo.
That was how things remained until I discovered a TikTok video about Wilson College's Single Parent Scholar (SPS) program, which helps single parents earn bachelor's degrees by providing free on-campus housing, childcare assistance and a supportive residential community. I remember being absolutely amazed that there was a college where I could actually live on campus with my son. Better yet, I could bring our cat too!
At that point, it felt too good to be true. Before I knew it, I was packing our things and saying goodbye to our family back home in New Jersey and heading to Pennsylvania. I genuinely cannot say enough good things about Wilson College and its SPS program.
The entire living situation is designed with parents and their children in mind. We're housed with other single parents; our kids have their own playroom right in our dorm, and the school even hosts little events specifically for our children, like easter egg hunts. Even the on-campus cafe has kid-friendly options, like smiley fries.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
