A Balancing Act | The daily struggle between work and school

Written by | NATALIE VILLARREAL |

Amarillo College students say they battle balancing everyday life with their school work. Elisa Correa, a dental hygiene major, is a full-time student, wife and mother of two boys. Her days start by waking up at 6 a.m. to get her boys ready for school and usually end around 10 p.m. after studying.

“I feel like there is not enough time during my day,” Correa said. “Sometimes I don’t even get to eat breakfast because I’m always rushing out the door.” Having such a hectic schedule doesn’t stop Correa from managing her studies and home life. Her reason for going back to school is to set a good example for her 4-year-old and 6-year-old. “My advice to anyone is to go to school when you’re young before you get married and have a family,” she said.

“I’m thankful my husband is supportive and helps me with my kids; otherwise I don’t know what I would do.” She is enrolled in three classes, which include Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology and Sociology, and she said she hopes to enroll in AC’s dental hygiene program next fall. Jordynn Lovelady, a nursing major, is a full-time student and works a full-time job.

“I have a full schedule Monday through Sunday with work and school,” Lovelady said. “Usually when I hang out with my friends, I’m studying. When I study, that is my social time.” Lovelady is studying Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology and Humanities with hopes of being accepted into AC’s nursing program next fall.

“This is temporary, and I’m OK with sacrificing my social time for my career,” she said. Like Correa and Lovelady, surgical technology major Dakota Hernandez is a student full-time as well as a full-time employee at BSA hospital. Hernandez encourages students always to stay positive and keep going even if it is challenging.

Hernandez is taking Medical Terminology, General Psychology and Anatomy and Physiology. All three of the students say balancing an everyday life with school is challenging, but despite their struggles, all say they are excited to see what their future holds and look forward to finishing the semester.