As a single parent, DJ Smith made the tough decision to enroll back in school and ultimately complete her bachelor's degree in Business Management.
Having been out of the game for a while and not knowing where to start, she turned to the Literacy and Independence for Family Education (LIFE) program through the Center for Adult and Veterans Services (CAVS).
It ended up changing her life.
Smith, who also works in the College of Business, Graduate Programs Office at Kent State, walked proudly across the stage as a Class of 2021 graduate to receive her diploma following a path that was far from easy at first.
It all began when her advisor told her about the LIFE program, a single-parent learning community that debuted in 2006. Initiated by Dr. Rachel Anderson and Dr. Eboni Pringle, it initially was a living-learning community but has expanded its efforts to provide a support network and surround care complete with supportive programs.
It even provides a scholarship each semester based on GPA, attendance at events, and participation. As a bonus, school supplies are provided for the participants' children, as are meals and gifts during the holiday season.
Joshua Rider is the Executive Director for CAVS. He says seeing someone like Smith utilizing the program gives him great pride.
“It is powerful and validating,” said Rider. “It is proof that investing in diverse students in smaller, high impact programs such as LIFE, have real impact and outcomes; this is theory and practice in action.”
Being older than the average age of students on campus, it was not easy for Smith to adjust to campus life as a student in the beginning.
“Returning to school was extremely difficult for me, and I felt like I was an anomaly on campus,” she said. “Not only was I much older than the students in my classes, often even older than the instructors, but I also had a kid who required a lot of my free time.”
That’s when the LIFE program paid big dividends for Smith.
“I was very excited to know there was an organization on campus that works with single parents, [and] I jumped at the opportunity to form a community with other single parents who I could talk to, and it allowed me to feel less lonely,” she said. “The LIFE program also put people in my life who encouraged me, helped me get through the struggles of my negative thoughts, and also gave me other single parents to look up to.”
Even so, as Smith returned to college when her son was only 11, she admitted that she never considered that she would graduate. As time went on and he entered high school, Smith was still going strong with college, and they were helping each other get through the daily grind of homework and studying. Suddenly, the realization that they could graduate in the same year was becoming more of a reality.
“My son challenged me to graduate before him [and so] I sat down with my list of courses and tried to plan out what classes I could take to be able to finish my degree and graduate first,” she said. “That is when I thought it would happen (graduating the same year as him), and I made it to the end of my program, graduating just ten days ahead of him.”
Smith’s success story was due to her reaching out for help and seeking real solutions to help her accomplish her dreams of becoming a college graduate. But what about those who don’t know where to start?
“There are no easy answers, and there is no way to do it without some help,” said Smith. “I would recommend finding a group of peers who can challenge and support them, get help from friends and family, find campus organizations and groups that are meaningful…most importantly, know they have the strength within themselves to do it [and] trust and believe in themselves.”
Rider agrees, adding that it takes one simple step to get the process rolling.
“They owe it to themselves to come in and have a conversation with someone at Kent State,” he said. “Specifically speaking to a CAVS team member that is familiar with the adult learner concerns and needs is a great first step to determine whether now is the right time, [but] do not just sit still, let time go by, and regret not reaching out later.”
As Smith crossed becoming a college graduate off her bucket list, she says it could have never been possible without the support Kent State offers.
“I know without a doubt if it had not been for the people in the LIFE program, I would not have graduated.”
For more on the Center for Adult and Veterans Services, please visit /cavs
For more on the LIFE program, please visit /cavs/life-program-learning-community-single-parents