The Panther

Issue date: 9/1/05 Section: Lifestyles and Health

Media Credit: Marques Allen Mother and child. Sharita Griffin with daughter Tierra.

Pregnancy in college can be one of the most challenging times for young adults. Educational careers are detoured to the full-time job of parenting, keeping a social life, and trying to juggle a job at the same time. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, 10 per cent of all college women become pregnant each year. It is stated that younger mothers are more likely to not finish high school or college. Also, it is additionally estimated that as many as 80 per cent of unwed mothers end up on welfare. As if living with the pressure of succeeding as an African American female isn't hard enough already, being a young mother delays the pace of receiving a slice of the American Dream.

" I'm not going to lie and give you a fantasy story; being a mother, going to school, and working is hard", says senior Sharita Griffin. Griffin is a Management Information Systems major, and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated. Sharita works Monday - Friday here on campus between her classes.

" My daily routine is getting up at 6 a.m., making sure I get dressed, and finish my homework. At 7 a.m., I wake up my 9-month-old daughter, change her diaper, feed her, and get her ready for daycare. From 8a.m. -5p.m. I spend my time here on campus studying, going to class, and then to work. At 5:45, I pick up my daughter from daycare and head home."

When asked what was the number one thing that motivated Sharita to continue her education, she suggested that it was her daughter. "

Eighteen years from now, my daughter will be in college, and I want her to understand that there will be obstacles that may be thrown in her path to prevent her achieving her goal, but through Christ Jesus, you can do all things." Griffin attends St. Paul Baptist church in Houston, TX, and in her spare time she likes to shop and catch up on her rest. Griffin's social life has in no way diminished, she just simply manages her time wisely.

"Although it gets tough at times and I want to stay in bed all day", says Sharita, " I realize that determination, diligence and self-discipline will take me far toward reaching my goal. The world does not end because I have a child. Through any struggle that I may go through, I always know that there's a light at the end
of the tunnel."

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