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TechnographDouble lives of student moms a difficult dynamic to balance
By Alissa Groeninger
Posted: 4/8/08 Section: Mom's Day Guide 2008
During Mom's Weekend, while many students will be busy spending time with their moms, the University's student moms will be caring for their own children.
People can forget that Mom's Weekend is for student moms as well as moms of students. Raising a child while meeting the demands of school can be challenging.
Vivian Zhao, graduate student, spends hours working at the Beckman Institute as a graduate assistant and then returns to Orchard Downs, the University's family housing complex, to care for her 13-month-old son, Ruideng Zhong.
Since having Ruideng, Zhao said she does not have a personal life. With her husband working in Louisville, Ky., and only able to spend weekends in Urbana, she spends every available minute with her son.
After moving to Urbana from China in 2003, Zhao began working on her Ph.D., before she gave birth to Ruideng in 2007. Her attention and energy is now divided between family and school.
Ajla Zisko-Aksamija, graduate student, said her situation is different from a lot of student moms because her daughter, Nula, is four and involved in Champaign-Urbana community activities. Nula participates in sports and attends preschool so most of her friends are from the area.
"We tend to be more involved in the community than other students," Ajla said.
She added that it feels like she and her family lead a double life because, while she and her husband are very active in the Champaign-Urbana community, they are also students and active in the University community.
While on campus her family spends a lot of time on the Quad, in the library and bowling and playing pool in the Union, Ajla said.
"Now (Nula) can reach the table," she said.
Ajla's husband, Zlatan, is president of Students With Children, an organization started last semester to provide student parents with an opportunity to support each other and discuss life as a student and a parent. Members can network in an informal situation, she said.
People can forget that Mom's Weekend is for student moms as well as moms of students. Raising a child while meeting the demands of school can be challenging.
Vivian Zhao, graduate student, spends hours working at the Beckman Institute as a graduate assistant and then returns to Orchard Downs, the University's family housing complex, to care for her 13-month-old son, Ruideng Zhong.
Since having Ruideng, Zhao said she does not have a personal life. With her husband working in Louisville, Ky., and only able to spend weekends in Urbana, she spends every available minute with her son.
After moving to Urbana from China in 2003, Zhao began working on her Ph.D., before she gave birth to Ruideng in 2007. Her attention and energy is now divided between family and school.
Ajla Zisko-Aksamija, graduate student, said her situation is different from a lot of student moms because her daughter, Nula, is four and involved in Champaign-Urbana community activities. Nula participates in sports and attends preschool so most of her friends are from the area.
"We tend to be more involved in the community than other students," Ajla said.
She added that it feels like she and her family lead a double life because, while she and her husband are very active in the Champaign-Urbana community, they are also students and active in the University community.
While on campus her family spends a lot of time on the Quad, in the library and bowling and playing pool in the Union, Ajla said.
"Now (Nula) can reach the table," she said.
Ajla's husband, Zlatan, is president of Students With Children, an organization started last semester to provide student parents with an opportunity to support each other and discuss life as a student and a parent. Members can network in an informal situation, she said.
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