Students who are parents face a unique set of challenges when returning to school. We recognize their resilience and determination as they navigate the demands of pursuing their education while raising a family. Read more to learn about some of our incredible student parents.
  • Manuela Caceres
    Manuela Caceres
    Student Parent
    It’s never too late to go back to school, no matter the age or even if it is one class, it’s all worth it in the end. Why is school important to you? School is important to me because as a mother and student, education can shape my future and set a positive example for my child. Tell us about your journey to FCC. My journey at FCC started after I graduated high school. I was taking a couple of courses at a time. I ended up getting pregnant and having to defer for a year after I had my daughter. I still felt determined to go back to school and finish what I had started. I came back to FCC and have thrived ever since. I came back focused on completing one of my goals in life. What would you tell a parent who is considering coming to FCC or returning to school in general and may be unsure? Just do it. Pursuing an education can enhance your career prospects, leading to better-paying job opportunities and financial stability. It’s never too late to go back to school, no matter the age or even if it is one class, it’s all worth it in the end. FCC has many campus resources to help you succeed. Never be afraid to ask for help! Read more
  • Cristian Vidal with 2 children on lap
    Cristian Vidal
    Student Parent
    A few years after taking my first ESOL classes, I realized the need to go back to school and provide me and my family with a wider job opportunity to balance our family life. Why is school important to you? School is important to me for many reasons. The first one is that school gives us the ability to acquire new knowledge and skills. Also, it provides us with the opportunity to get a job, which allows us to have a more balanced life. At the same time, it provides a better quality of life for our family. Additionally, schools allow us to interact with different points of view, opinions, and cultures, and as a result, a more interconnected society. Tell us about your journey to FCC. My journey at FCC started a few years ago, in which my goal at that time was to improve my English skills by taking two classes. A few years after taking my first ESOL classes, I realized the need to go back to school and provide me and my family with a wider job opportunity to balance our family life.
    Today, I am pursuing a career in the healthcare industry, either as a nurse, dental hygienist, or radiology technician. The reason is simple: to help people. Lately, in my life and due to sudden events, I have created the necessity of doing volunteer work. Therefore, pursuing a profession in the healthcare industry will allow me to provide for my family, have a more balanced family life, and give society some quality help.
          What would you tell a parent who is considering coming to FCC or returning to school in general and may be unsure? I will tell them, and not just individuals with children, that going back to school is a great decision. Moreover, it is a better decision to choose FCC. The reason is that FCC truly supports all its students to achieve their goal of achieving higher education, providing all the resources necessary for the student's success, and benefiting students as parents, single parents, young adults, or students with special needs.
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  • Courtney Crenshaw
    Courtney Crenshaw
    Student Parent
    Do this for you, you deserve it. Why is school important to you? School is important to me because it gives me an opportunity to acquire more knowledge and challenge myself while working toward my goals. Tell us about your journey to FCC. My journey to FCC has been a long one, but well worth it. I originally sought out coming to FCC right out of high school, but life had other plans. I made the best choice I could have by following through this time. What would you tell a parent who is considering coming to FCC or returning to school in general and may be unsure? Any parent considering joining or returning to school I would definitely say: DO IT. If not now, then when? Life is a journey, no one said it would be easy. It will be hard to balance it all such as being a parent, working to pay bills, and still being able to focus on school. Just imagine, though, in the end how proud you will be of yourself and how proud your children will be once you get that degree or certificate. Live for the NOW. Do this for you, you deserve it. Read more
  • Kate Hanson
    Kate Hanson
    Student Parent
    As long as you are willing to take the chance, there really are no limits to the goals that can be achieved. Why is school important to you? School is incredibly important because it provides opportunities, across the board. Not only can you attain knowledge via your studies, but you can make connections that foster both personal and professional growth. Higher education also shows the individual that no matter where you "are," there are always options for your future. As long as you are willing to take the chance, there really are no limits to the goals that can be achieved. Higher education offers a paradigm shift and consistently allows for out-of-the-box thinking, which can totally transform your world! Tell us about your journey to FCC. Coming back to school was a big decision for me, one that was full of careful consideration, uncertainty, anxiety, as well as excitement. But once I made the decision to officially "enroll," everything took off from there. I've been a student since summer of 2023 and looking to graduate this upcoming spring of 2025 with an A.A.S in paralegal/legal studies, and I couldn't be more excited!

    I previously worked in behavioral health, with those navigating complex systems while coping with co-occurring disorders. A few years ago (after dealing with various personal and professional experiences) I felt drawn towards a focus on legal advocacy and opportunity, specifically assisting women and children. I'm hoping to work with mothers who are looking to build stability and create increasingly positive futures for not just themselves but for their families, as well.     What would you tell a parent who is considering coming to FCC or returning to school in general and may be unsure? I would encourage that parent to try the door! You honestly don't know until you try. Regardless of the outcome and/or trajectory, you are getting to know yourself, identifying your goals, and learning along the way. I see it as a win-win. In addition, I would share the pleasure of being a parent-student and the unexpected joy that carries having little students of my own at home while being a student myself. I have two small children, and the power of learning in tandem via generational education and opportunity is profound, beyond measure!     Read more
  • Devon Hall holding child
    Devon Hall
    Student Parent
    I have come a long way and am so thankful that FCC has given me this opportunity to do this for myself and my son. Why is school important to you? School is important to me because it gives me the chance to excel personally, educationally, and within the workforce. It is an opportunity to challenge the way that we think, the way we connect with others, and the way that we tackle everyday life. There are so many stigmas around the education system, and I love how education impacts every area of your life for the better. Tell us about your journey to FCC. My journey at FCC has not been an easy one, yet it has shown me that perseverance can bring you a long way in anything that you do. When I started this journey in 2017, I was single, working two jobs, walking over an hour to work and school every single day. If funds were ever available after paying rent, internet, food, etc., I would take the bus. I wanted this so bad, but even in the midst of anxiety and depression and at the time undiagnosed ADHD, I felt like I was drowning and could not keep up, especially when covid hit. 

    I took a break for a while, until I knew that I could do this full-on and push through whatever life had thrown at me. Along the way there was always help from FCC staff. Whether it was visiting the health and wellness department for counseling, professors doing their best to work with me, but still knowing that at the end of the day it was my choice on whether or not I would succeed. So, thank you to Professor Anne Hoffman on the support during that time, even though I had you twice for ENGL101 (covering my face right now from embarrassment); to Professor Ljubic for checking in with me and providing the support needed when I decided to come back; this is when I passed ENGL101 taking it for a third time. Academic advising (Jennifer Ward) and Parents Lead (Jeniffer Leonard) have all played a serious role in my success.

    I have always wanted to continue my education and work within the health field serving others. It is a core passion of mine that throughout my life, I had to learn that even in serving others, boundaries still need to be set, and you still need to take care of yourself. Here I am a returning student and mother pushing full force to succeed and achieve all of my education goals! Education is key even in personal growth, and I see that every day! I have come a long way and am so thankful that FCC has given me this opportunity to do this for myself and my son. To go from academic suspension for a few years to it being lifted, speaks volumes for me personally.     What would you tell a parent who is considering coming to FCC or returning to school in general and may be unsure? It is not going to be easy, as nothing in life is. I will say though that with the right support system it is possible. At times you may feel guilty that you are focusing on a homework assignment instead of reading a book to your child, or coloring with them on the sidewalk with chalk, but take a deep breath and remember that you are doing this for you, which ultimately is for them! Many times, I have to take a deep breath and remember the why; the why behind why you need to do this vs. the why behind you wanting to do this. 

    There are multiple resources on campus if you are ever in need of support. Student Success, Parents Lead, academic advisors and even Disability Access Services- these are all resources that I use currently and some that I have had to use in the past. As a parent, whether you are doing this alone or with a significant other, FCC prides itself in making sure you are not alone in this journey even in moments when you feel you are. Trust me, if I can do this, you can definitely do this, and remember that even if you are unsure, there is a time and a place in everything we do; just because it may not be today, it does not make you a failure.
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