The Balancing Game: Probing the Lived Experiences of College Studying Mothers

Abstract

Student mothers handle enormous responsibilities between taking care of their child and pursuing their studies. In this study, the researchers aim to explore the lived experiences of the student mothers in reference to their dual roles. The purpose of this study is to shed a light on the lives of these young women by providing a profound understanding of their struggles, motivations, and the different stories. The conversation partners were chosen via snowball and purposive sampling, which are guided by the following criteria: a.) a bonafide student enrolled in a state university in Negros Occidental in the 1st semester of Academic Year 2022-2023; b.) ages 20 - 24 years old; c.) a biological mother to young child/children ages 0 – 6 years old; d.) single parent or married; e.) has the custody of the child/living with her child or children, and f.) willing to participate in the study. Researchers employed an in-depth semi-structured interview as a tool in gathering the data. Each student mother underwent a one-on-one interview with the researchers in order to obtain substantial information of their lived experiences. The interviews were then transcribed for data analysis. After rigorous analysis, four core themes emerged from the data. Results revealed that most of the participants experienced personal struggles, societal acceptance as well as family and peer acceptance. Moreover, the student mothers shared that a strong support system is something that they wish for to have that could further help them in dealing with their day-to-day struggles. To cope with the different challenges that arise, the conversation partners rely greatly on their small family, their faith, as well as their immediate families and friends. The results of this study allowed the researchers to have a deeper insight of their situation and a glimpse of what is it like being a student mother.