Going back: moving forward 1: Single parent makes college a priority

Editor’s note: The Aztec Press presents its award-winning series from Fall 2009. This series, “Going back: moving forward,” tells the stories of nontraditional students who have returned to school—some after a few years, others after many. “Going back: moving forward” won first place for Feature Writing in the Society of Professional Journalists regional 2-year/community college category. It reached the top three nationally, to become a nationalist finalist.

Story by Liza Porter
Photo by Jessica Canchola

Jennifer Stockdale has had a difficult life, but is determined to earn an associate degree and go on to the University of Arizona to study political science. After that, she plans to attend law school.

The single parent is in her last semester at Pima Community College. Born and raised in Tucson, Stockdale earned her GED soon after dropping out of high school. She tried college then, but was working full time and couldn’t handle it.

In the midst of an abusive relationship, Stockdale woke up one day and saw what a bad place she was in. “I realized I didn’t deserve it,” she says. Starting over was a long process. She began believing in herself and enrolled in college.

Despite her difficulties, she maintains a positive attitude. Her laughter is contagious.

Stockdale, 34, has red hair and freckles. On interview day, she wore a green T-shirt that accents her eyes, and tan knee-length shorts. Like many women in the desert heat, she pulled her hair back into a scrunched-up ponytail.

Working part time, going to school and raising two daughters ages 6 and 14 is difficult. In fact, “it sucks,” she says, laughing.

Then Stockdale changes her mind. “It doesn’t suck,” she continues. She appreciates the opportunity to go to college and do something more with her life. She works very hard at her classes.

Money is tight but Stockdale and her daughters live with her mother. “She’s not charging me rent, which is a huge help,” Stockdale says.

Her mother raised Stockdale and her siblings alone. “She really did it on her own, so she understands.”

Stockdale is the only one of her siblings to go to college. Her mother was the first one in her family to get a degree, as well.

One reason Stockdale went back to school is because she read “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand when her oldest daughter was a baby. The book affected her deeply, partly because the characters were older.

Stockdale realized, “I’m still young! I still have time to live.” She promised herself that when her daughters were in school, she’d go back to college.

A job provided another reason. While employed as a nanny, the couple she worked for told her: “We’re not renewing your contract. We love you and the kids love you, but what are you doing here?”

She laughs as she tells the story. “They said ‘Go back to school! You’re fired!’” She laughs again. She sees the couple as role models. They are several years older than Stockdale, and have become very successful.

Besides working as a nanny, Stockdale has a Montessori teaching certificate. She’s also worked in restaurants and retail stores, and she’s been a delivery driver. Sometimes she held two or three jobs at a time to support her children.

Now she works Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Target, in addition to attending PCC full time.

Stockdale’s weekdays go something like this: Get up at 6 a.m., wake her daughters, make sure they have breakfast, get them to school. She uses the time before and between classes to do her homework, and schedules her classes so she can be with the girls in the afternoons.

“They’re very independent,” she says. She wants her daughters to be successful, and often tells them: “Get the scholarships, work hard now.”

Besides traditional classes, Stockdale has taken one online class in biology. She liked the class and recommends online instruction but says she “failed miserably at self-paced.” Laughing, she admit: “Can’t do it.”

Her favorite subject is political science, “though Plato was kind of crazy.”

Instructors at Pima have been very tolerant about her role as a single parent, she says. During a family emergency last spring, her instructors were understanding.

“But, you have to be a good student,” she says. In her experience, instructors aren’t as flexible with people who don’t take school seriously.

When asked what type of law she’d like to practice once she obtains a legal degree, Stockdale says, “not criminal,” and laughs. She might specialize in family law, estate planning or tax law. She wants to help people navigate the legal system, noting “that is really hard.”

She’s tolerant of other’s viewpoints and doesn’t have rigid stances on issues, so doesn’t think she’d be a good litigator or criminal attorney. “I don’t know,” Stockdale says. “We’ll just have to see.”

Stockdale notes there are more women in law school than ever before. “And older people,” she says. “They want me. I’m old.” She laughs.

By the numbers:
(Source: Pima Web site)
• Average age: 27
• 56% women; 44% men
• 71% part-time; 29% full-time
• 42% ethnic minorities

Originally published September 17, 2009

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