Mom, Why Do You Have

¶ … Mom, why do you have to go to school?" My five-year-old stared up at me with surprisingly mature concern. At first I laughed and said, "Because mommy needs to go to school, just like you do!" But her needs would become the main reason why I decided to take some time off from the PA program at Touro College. Before my divorce I was doing fine at school, because my partner and I split child caring and house maintenance duties.

Yet after we split I was awash with a wave of twice the work and responsibilities that I had before. When I got back from classes I was too tired to clean up or cook; we ordered or took out food almost every night that we didn't just stick frozen or canned foods in the microwave. After the separation I tried my best to keep a cheerful attitude around my child, but the stresses and strains of doing it all alone were becoming overwhelming.

I found myself placing my child in front of the television most of the evening so I could study. I thought about my child's question. I spoke to my parents, who told me supportively that they would be willing to help out and do whatever it took to get my feet back on the ground after the divorce. Initially, I did not want to take any time off of school.

It would ruin my momentum, I thought, and it would just prolong the time that it would take to get my degree. However, I spoke with my academic advisors and counselors about the problems I was having.

One by one they told me things like, "Rather than risk lowering your grades, why don't you take some time off? A lot of people do it, and you can easily return to school once your personal life is more stable." Their advice made a lot of sense, and I appreciated their genuine concern for both my academic success and for my personal health and well-being. After careful deliberation, and with the full support of my young child, my family, and my professors, I set aside my pride and fears.

I decided to take a leave of absence of just enough time to iron out the kinks in my personal life. As a result, the divorce proceedings went relatively smoothly. I knew that the PA program at Touro would be waiting for me, and I would be able to pick up from exactly where I left off. I believe now that if I hadn't taken time off, I might have developed significant mental and emotional problems.

My academic performance might have suffered, and so would have my ability to care for my five-year-old. Therefore, taking time off was a preventative measure, one that reinforces my commitment to academic excellence and success. I am committed to finishing the PA program and want to devote as much time and energy as I possibly can to completing my degree. Because I wisely tended to my own needs and that of my child, I now feel fully ready to return to school and resume coursework.

In fact, I have a fresh focus on my life; with a new outlook on my personal life I also have a new perspective on the direction of my academic and professional careers. I have also been offered generous financial assistance from.