I'm a single mother of two young boys. I work full time and I'm going to school to get a degree in Radiopgraphy. Some days I think it's a piece of cake and then there are days I think I could be committed to the mental ward in a hospital.

I start at 6:30 am getting the kids off to school. I then go to my job, that is so incredibly long and boring. I sit at a desk doing a lot of data entry, all day. I get out of work and pick up my kids at daycare and we drive home talking about their day at school. They some times fight and bicker in the back seat and I find my self stressed to the max in the first fifteen minutes that we are in each others company. I do my best to keep my cool. We get through the door and I start dinner while the kids do their chores. We may get in a little time together playing ball outdoors, or watch a show together, until it's time for baths and then bed. This has sometimes been my study time, but I've found it's hard for me to focus. I'm to exhausted after such a long day. I've definitely learned that I can't sit down and try to memorize a million different bones in the body with a five year old saying Mom every five seconds. Then I have a ten year old screaming in his room that his little brother just took his toy. So, I try to make do and take advantage of the down times. I have found that I'm most effective on my lunch breaks. I sit at my desk and study on line, or drive down to the ocean and sit in my car with my Anatomy and Physiology book. I have struggled here and there, but I have found that if I follow a strict schedule between work, studying and being a mom, it seems to work best for me.

I have only taken on line classes since starting college and I'm still lost in the dark with what I will do when it comes time to do clinical work. I'm praying my job will accommodate my schedule. If not, I haven't decided what I will do. I have become really stressed with getting passing grades in each of my classes. It's a really big let down when I don't accomplish what I am striving for. I guess it would be for anyone. Worst of all, I dread having to repeat a class because I didn't pass it the first time. I really don't have the time to be retaking classes. I think about how much work and effort came out of trying to pass the class the first time. I guess I need to accept that going to college isn't going to be easy and to keep trucking forward.

It's tough being a Mom, working full time and going to school, but in order to reach your goals, it's an effort you have to make. I am confident that my hard work will pay off in the end. My children will only benefit from seeing me work hard to accomplish my goals. Anything is possible!

Learn more about this author, Crystal Simoneau.
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