Student mothers in CAPSU-Pilar and their dual role experience

Abstract

Generally, this study focused on the lives of student mothers currently enrolled at CapSU-Pilar as they lived with dual role experience that of a student and a mother. Specifically, it sought to: (1)establish demographic profile of the student mothers in CapSU-Pilar in terms of number of student mothers by course and year level, actual age and age of motherhood, number of child/children in custody, marital status, husband`s source of income, nature of home settlement, educational attainment of student mother`s parents and source of their monthly income; (2) determine the underlying motivation of student mothers of CapSU-Pilar in pursuing college education; (3) determine how the student mothers perceived their role as a mother and or student; (4) find out how student mother cope with their roles; (5) find out which of the role as student or mother directs more of her attention; (6) determine the impact of these roles strains and conflicting situations among student mothers in pursuing higher education. The participants of the study were the 27 student mothers who willingly participated in the study. The research method designed to collect data was through the use of interview schedule and focused group discussion. Data were reported in the language of interviewer`s and or the informants. Result revealed that out of the total number of student mothers currently enrolled in CapSU-Pilar a big number of them (17 or 62.96%) were in the first year college, almost half of them (10 or 37.4%) came from Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED), with age ranges from 21-23, had become mom from ages 15-20, and with one child in custody. More than half of student moms were unmarried (18 or 67.67%), lived with biological parents only, a few reported that their husbands were employed, with college graduate father (9 or 33.33%) and college graduate mother (5 or 18.52%) Student mothers pursued higher education to finish a degree, to find access for better jobs, to provide children`s needs and for stable life in the future. Student mother perceive their dual roles to be equally difficult and challenging though very important to keep. (3) Student mothers likewise perceive themselves as motivated, skillful in time management and responsible students; as mothers they perceive themselves as caring and providing mother. Student mothers cope with the difficulties of the dual role they assumed through self-determination, time management skills and the strong support of their respective biological families. Student mother`s failure to finish schooling was considered a great loss of opportunities for better life. Student mother directed their attention to motherhood. Student mothers found the dual role equally difficult and challenging though very important to keep; both married and unmarried moms (but with husband) found that their being a student didn`t affect their marriage. The dual role strains and difficulties impacted the life of student mothers by being intensely motivated to finish a degree. To them failure to have a degree was considered a great loss of opportunity for better life.