University of Phoenix on Parents as Adult Learners
Jun 15, 2021
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If you are a parent struggling to make time for yourself, you are certainly not alone. Balancing life as an adult with personal needs and ambitions alongside life as a parent can seem impossible, especially when your children are young. Goals like returning to school, for example, may start to take a backseat to your family’s needs. But through time management, proper study habits and flexible learning options, the time to finish what you started may not need to wait much longer.
The University of Phoenix understands the challenges that parents face as adult learners. Here are just a few of their suggestions for parents to begin their journey and earn an education without detriment to their families.
Tip #1: Embrace the fact that your path is individualized
Education is not a one-size-fits-all journey. A typical student might sit in the library for hours on end studying for an upcoming exam or be able to completely focus on their coursework with little to no distraction. Parents attending courses have an entirely different set of considerations before they can even make an academic commitment.
Forget spending an entire weekend at the library. Some parents may need to work while in school or arrange for childcare before attending a class. Others have their children’s after-school activities and care needs to put before their own education. Maintaining these obligations and caring for a family create a significant financial and resource burden for parents planning to return to school.
Ultimately, adults who revisit their education after having children have the advantage of life experience on their side. It may seem challenging to budget for an education and a family simultaneously, but these challenges are worth overcoming. In reality, these concerns prepare adult students for maintaining a work-life balance in a career. Part of this puzzle is to explore options that help, rather than hinder, your ability to individualize your approach and cater to all of the demands placed on you.
Tip #2: Play to your strengths instead of agonizing over your weaknesses
Everyone has shortcomings or disadvantages to work with when pursuing a goal or juggling a number of responsibilities at once. Instead of focusing on everything working against you, look for what advantages your background and situation can provide.
For example, if you are great with time management but have a rigid schedule that revolves around your children, explore more flexible education options. Fortunately, many universities offer online learning programs that permit students to benefit from flexible scheduling. According to Dr. Pamela Roggerman, dean of the College of Education at the University of Phoenix, “Everyone has the same 1,440 minutes in a day; online adult students make the lifestyle change to carve out some of those 1,440 minutes for their classes.”
Since students of all ages tend to underestimate the time or effort involved in earning an education, flexible scheduling can empower adult learners with families to complete their coursework in a time frame that works best for the whole family.
Because parents have an entirely different set of circumstances than traditional learners, returning to school will require an extra set of planning. Before enrolling in a program, prospective students with children should sit down and chart a roadmap. Hone in on your strengths and plan with them, not around them. Organizing your goals and responsibilities can help you understand the necessary changes to make as a student.
What options do parents have if they simply need more hours in the day but struggle to find them? If you are the type of student who can sit in one place and study for hours a time but life as a parent makes that less than feasible, do not give up. Consider the room in your days, weeks, and months where you can fit in time to study without having to sacrifice your parental obligations. By taking the time to make these decisions before your classes start, you will find yourself far more levelheaded and clear-minded when diving into your studies.
Tip #3: When times get tough (and they will!), do not forget why you chose to go back to school in the first place
Earning a degree can increase one’s earning potential by opening up additional possible career paths. Yet far too often, aspiring students get caught up in the “could’ve, would’ve, should’ve” of “adulting.” Parents who go back to school should be proud of how they have held themselves accountable to their aspirations. They can reap the benefits for their families, not only themselves.
Parents who are also students can also make an impact through the legacy they impart to their children. Said Roggerman, “Parents returning to school set a positive example for their children. They are not only investing in their own education; they also equip their children with the same tools to tackle theirs in the future.” Roggerman also found that “children of adults who are in school see that long-term goals sometimes take decades.” By watching their parents strive toward a goal, children can learn the positive concept of delayed gratification and the value of hard work.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is a leading provider of higher education specifically administered with adult learners in mind. Founded in 1976, the University established its mission to make higher education more accessible to all. As a result, the University of Phoenix is one of the first to offer classes online, empowering adult learners to enroll and complete an education program on their chosen terms.
University of Phoenix students can enroll in over 100 associate, bachelor’s, master's, and doctoral programs that align with over 300 potential professional occupations. Students have the option to complete their coursework online or in person at one of the University campus locations throughout the U.S.
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