Overcoming Barriers and Finding Strengths: The Lives of College Students As Single Mothers
Overcoming Barriers and Finding Strengths: The Lives of College Students As Single Mothers
Overcoming Barriers and Finding Strengths: The Lives of College Students As Single Mothers
Prof. Roseniya G. Tamano Mr. Fernando R. Sequete, Jr. Prof. Elizabeth A. Miranda
College of Education, College of Education, College of Social Sciences &
Mindanao State University, Mindanao State University, Humanities,
Marawi City, Philippines Marawi City, Philippines Mindanao State University,
Marawi City, Philippines
KEYWORDS ABSTRACT
single mother-students, Single parenting among teenage students in undergraduate school faces a variety of
single mother, overcoming challenges in both a parent and a student responsibility and even dream of becoming
barriers, finding strengths, a successful woman someday to sustain the basic needs of their children. The design
theme analysis. of this study consists of twelve (12) interview questions with student single mothers
who were currently enrolled in Mindanao State University, Marawi City. During the
pilot interview, seven (7) questions were adopted from the study of Ajandi (2011)
until the researchers came up with twelve (12) interview questions due to the
follow-up questions being made and observed during the pilot-testing interview.
The selected five single mother students were from the three colleges in the
University, two from the College of Education, another two from the College of
Business Administration, and one from the College of Engineering. The data offer an
insight into the challenges faced by young women and the insights on how they
passed those challenges or barriers of becoming a student and single parent at the
same time. The narratives also serve as an exploration framework for the strengths
and weaknesses and the factors that most influenced their ability to continue their
studies. Through a thematic analysis, the study found that these single mothers are
more motivated to continue their studies to support their children in the future.
They also revealed that no matter how many hardships they face, these single
mothers become tougher when they think of their children. A love of a mother to her
children motivated them to strive harder. The study shows that further investigation
into family dynamics is needed regarding the nurturing the success of a teen mother.
Please cite this article as: Serrano M., Galocgoc R. G., Guimba W., Tamano R., Sequete F., Miranda E. (2022).
Overcoming Barriers and Finding Strengths: The Lives of College Students as Single Mothers, International
Journal of `Umranic Studies. Vol 5. Issue 1. Pp.1-9.
Serrano M., Galocgoc R., Guimba W., Tamano R., Sequete F., Miranda E. / International Journal of `Umranic Studies
(Vol 5, Issue 1, January 2022)
two are not an easy task to handle, especially when have now become a vital subculture that will have to
you have difficulty balancing the load between your be accepted in the society as a valid and legitimate
studies and of your child's needs and attention, unit (Ortigas, 1996: 12). Considering that these
particularly on financial, moral, and emotional needs. single parents/mothers are still part of the society
Most single mothers who are still studying are still who needed most the guidance and support from the
dependent on their parents for shelter and care in government and with the people surrounding them
making things; and their children as motivation and and of whatever reasons, they became one (single
reason in continuing their study to become a mother parent) that needs to be heard as well. The
who can give and support the needs of her children. challenges faced by these women and the courage
The act or process of raising children is defined as and strength required to meet these challenges
parenting (Staff, 2004). Single parenting, on the cannot be underestimated.
other hand, is the same, yet with only one parent
raising her child or children. Single parents can be
classified into two categories: (1) solo parents-by Several studies (Austin & McDermott, 2004; Mason,
decision, resulting in divorce; legal separation; 2002; Snow, 2005) have shown that single mother
mutual decision to separate, with or without legal students are working on the time, finances, and
agreement; being abandoned or left by a spouse; and energy levels that often result in significant personal
decision to leave spouse ; (2) Parents who have a needs being sacrificed. The researchers have
child but do not want to marry; adopt your own child mentioned all this to understand how these women
or go to an adoption service; and chose to raise a face the various challenges they face in society and
relative's child or children (Gault, et al., 2014). have decided to study the lives and experiences of
single mother students in schools.
3. What or who has helped you balance your role Findings and Discussion
as a single student mother?
I. Participant's Profile
4. Did you attend a part-time job to help or lessen
the financial needs of your child and your
studies? If yes, why?
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Table 1 shows the age of the participants ranges interviews, all participants expressed a desire to
from 20 to 28 years old. As can be seen, respondents continue their studies despite their current
have one (1) to four (4) children, four (4) of which circumstances. They are even more motivated to
are separated by choice, and the other one (1) is continue their studies so to support their child in the
divorced due to some circumstances. Participants future. It has also been stated that children were a
were coming from the three colleges of the motivator for single mothers to enroll in post-
university; Business Administration major in secondary education in the first place (Haleman,
Marketing and Accountancy; College of Engineering 2004). As a result, single mothers' educational
major in Civil Engineering; and from the College of pursuits can help their children by lowering risk
Education major in TLE and History. Three out of five factors associated with poverty. For them, quitting at
participants were graduating students in 2016, and some point is not a failing factor in achieving the
the other remaining two are third-year students. goals they set for themselves when they enrolled in
university. It is clear from the responses of the
participants that their goal is to graduate despite the
II. Participants’ insights on single pressures of both parenting and studying.
parenting and being a student at the same time
done nothing good to you, better neglect it. The participants were very positive, especially
Participants in this study demonstrated from the participant one (1), who stated that even though she
start of the interview how positive they are in has a child at a young age, she can still manage to
overcoming these barriers of criticism, as evidenced continue doing what she had dreamed and planned
by their facial expressions on how their child before having a baby. One of the benefits of
motivates them more than being affected by societal becoming a single parent, according to participant
criticisms. five (5), is courage. Because of her children, her
courage drives her to continue her life's pursuits.
Our parents may seem far distant from us, but they They have nothing else to rely on, single mothers
did not fail to show us and to let us feel how much must juggle responsibilities and duties, especially
they cared for us, especially in the cases of these five when it comes to child-rearing and school
single mothers who are being supported by their responsibilities. The study's five (5) participants all
parents from a far distant wherein parents who see their situation as positive forces in their lives.
continuously supporting their children financially Despite juggling duties and responsibilities, they
and morally despite the distance from their children. remain happy and faithful to God to strengthen them
Friends may not help them financially, but every day as they move forward in their lives. Four
encouragement and other motivating factors (4) out of every five (5) participants say it's still
rendered by their friends, help them lessen the load different if you have someone to balance the duties
they are carrying. As it has been said in the transcript and responsibilities of child-rearing. Someone with
below, participant one (1) said that “support” does whom they can discuss their plans for the child and
not only mean financial help, but also, words of whom the child can identify as a father figure.
wisdom and encouragement from parents, peers, and Another disadvantage, as mentioned by participant
other groups of individuals in the community, which four (4), was the freedom to go out with peers and
are of big help to anybody. the time to beautify herself, both of which most other
teenagers can enjoy in their lives. Despite all of the
things she has been denied the opportunity to enjoy,
2.9 What are the advantages of being a single participant four (4) concludes that having her baby
student-mother? with her is worthwhile and fulfilling.
Theme: Positive life despite what happened 2.11 What are the difficulties?
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Participant five (5) mentioned time management as 1. For the single mother students to continue
one of the challenges she has faced, especially when their studies and remain confident that,
school and child-rearing are part of her life. despite the hurdles they had been facing,
According to participant five (5), if time management there is always a way to achieve their
is not properly managed, it can lead to stress. Aside objective of succeeding and that completed
from financial issues, participant one (1) stated that their education is subject to one-way tickets
nursing a child has been difficult for her as a first- to success.
time mother. A similar sentiment was expressed in
the USA, where the argument arose that it is not easy 2. For these single mother-students to ensure
for teen mothers to care for a child and to give that they continue to fight with or without
adequate time for schoolwork (Chigona & Chetty, discrimination between peers and other
2008; McLanahan & Sandefur, 2009; Eccles & Harold, groups.
1993). 3. For the parents to continually support, if
possibly not abandon their daughter,
especially, on this very delicate situation.
2.12 How did you manage or makes lessen the stress
you are feeling? 4. For future researchers to include the
parents and the father of the children of
individual mother students in their
perceptions.
Theme: Faith in Higher Being
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