Categories: uncategorized
Date: 06 May 2006 15:57:46
There is an article in todays Guardian about people who have kids whilst at uni and the difficulties they then face getting jobs.
As somebody who can quite comfortably say been there, done that and got the t-shirt I have to say it makes interesting reading.
Now I would never ever recommend to anybody that getting pregnant, (whether you are married or not), whilst at uni is a good idea, but these things do happen. As the article indicates the thought that comes into your mind is "this is not the way it was supposed to be, how can I finish the course now?". I remember wandering in a haze into a Sociology lecture on voting patterns when I found out I was expecting, part way through my 2nd year at uni thinking "what now?".
However, with family support, it was possible. As somebody who was, at the time, married it was easier I guess because my then husband was willing and able to move back to our home town and with the support of our parents become the main carer. Me, during my final year I commuted up on a Monday and went home on a Thursday. This I know is unusual, but it was the creative solution and in this type of situation creative solutions are what you become good at. It also involved a certain amount of sacrifice of time with the baby in order for me to be selfish about the course. I went into that with my eyes wide open and so was careful not to become overly attached during the first few weeks; if you are going to be off at lectures from when it is small you can't afford to become sentimental about not being there.
The article deals with finding out what support is needed and applying for it. For me the key thing was, (and don't laugh) getting a big table at the back of the hall for the end of 2nd year exams where I wasn't squashed in if the bump decided it was bored and I needed to shift position during the exam. The other thing was a visit to the welfare officer to see exactly I was able to get financially.
Another point in the article is the effect it can have on your work. For me I actually think it actually made me more focused than I had ever been. If the baby is due the same week as the resits you cannot afford to fail anything. Also I had to get my dissertation written up at specific times when you are away from a baby who may or may not be sleeping, (most of mine actually got written on the train journeys).
In terms of the job thing, I only had one bad experience. In the second main interview I had they had clearly read my form and so could see that I had become an expert at the baby not being an issue because I had finished the degree. So I'm not sure I totally agree with the article when somebody advises not to let on you are a mother, infact I would be extremely wary of not disclosing it because there may be cases where it does matter and people need to know.
Still not a bad article and it does stress the main point getting pregnant at uni is not the end of the world.