A column by SSC sophomore Angela Buckley of Shawnee

A Different Picture

When people picture college students, they often imagine someone fresh out of high school, living in dorms, attending classes full-time, and building their future with relatively few outside responsibilities.

That image has never reflected my reality.

I am a mother who works full-time while also attending school full-time.

My life outside the classroom includes navigating health challenges, both my own and my children’s, along with responsibilities that do not pause for assignments or exams.

Returning to college was not a simple or convenient decision. It was a necessary one.

Coming back as a nontraditional student means carrying more than a backpack. It means balancing competing priorities, managing uncertainty, and pushing forward even when the weight of it all feels overwhelming.

There were moments when deadlines and life collided in ways that made success feel out of reach. Moments when I questioned whether I could sustain this path.

What I came to realize, however, is that I was not falling behind. I was moving toward a path that simply looks different. That progress was built not on ease, but on persistence.

Persistence Over Perfection

Persistence for me is not about perfection. It is about continuing despite setbacks, showing up on the days when everything feels heavy, and choosing not to give up even when stepping away would be easier.

Balancing full-time work, full-time school, and motherhood is not something that comes naturally. It is something I commit to every day.

The People Who Made the Difference

While this journey is deeply personal, it has never been one I have walked alone. My support system, especially my mom, has played a critical role in making my education possible.

There have been moments when I had to choose between meeting academic expectations and meeting the demands of everyday life, and she stepped in to help care for my children without hesitation. Her support created the space I needed to continue pursuing my goals.

Equally important has been the support I found within my institution through Student Support Services (SSS) and the STEM program. These programs provided more than academic assistance. They provided stability during some of my most challenging moments.

When I first returned to school, everything felt uncertain and overwhelming. SSS and STEM helped me navigate that transition, offering guidance and reassurance when I needed it the most.

Their support became especially critical when I encountered obstacles that could have derailed my progress. During the process of completing both an academic appeal and a financial aid appeal, SSS did more than provide information. They helped me advocate for myself and reminded me that setbacks are not the end of the story.

When I needed additional academic support, they also assisted in obtaining an accommodations form, ensuring that I had the tools necessary to succeed despite external challenges.

Reconnecting With Purpose

Through the STEM program, I gained confidence in pursuing a path in science and healthcare.

That passion was first shaped long before I returned to college. It was shaped by watching my grandmother work as a psychiatric nurse and care for others with patience and compassion. Her example showed me what it means to serve people not just medically, but humanly.

The STEM program helped me reconnect with that purpose and believe that I belong in this field.

These experiences have shown me that resilience and persistence are not separate qualities, but deeply connected ones. Resilience allows you to endure difficult moments, while persistence is what carries you forward beyond them. Support, both personal and institutional, is what makes that continued movement possible.

For Students Who See Themselves Here

There are many students whose experiences look like mine. Students balancing work, family, and education, while trying to create something better for themselves and their futures. For those students, it is important to recognize that support exists.

You belong here.

Programs like Student Support Services (SSS) and STEM are not just resources. They are lifelines. They are spaces where students can find the guidance, understanding, and support needed to move forward. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness; it is a step towards success.

Still Here

The path may not look traditional, but it is not less meaningful. Every assignment completed, every exam passed, and every semester completed represents a level of commitment that often goes unseen.

Resilience is not about avoiding struggle. Persistence is not about never feeling exhausted.

It is about continuing anyway.

I am still growing, still learning, and still navigating everything that comes with this journey; however, I am still here, and that was once something I questioned.

I may not be the traditional college student, but I represent something just as important: a student who continues to show up, adapt, and push forward.

I didn’t get here alone, but I stayed because I refused to give up, and because I learned that it’s okay to ask for help along the way.

The Seminole State College SSS Project is 100% federally funded in the amount of $306,514 annually. The Seminole State College STEM SSS Project is 100% federally funded in the amount of $272,364 annually. For more information, contact Janna Wilson-Byrd, Director of Projects, at 405-382-9642. The Projects can also be viewed here.