It's about sacrifice. Most mothers will say that being a mom is all about sacrifice, giving up your life to raise, support, and guide another person through theirs. It's a time when a woman is not their own person, but someone who gives up everything for someone else. It's selfless love.
Many mothers attend Green River, whether they have little ones at home, or out of the house. The reasons why they have come back to school may differ, but there are always similarities. Five mothers in particular that attend Green River undergo hardship, and life struggle everyday, yet through every difficulty they still make time for school, and their children. Gabrielle Wilkerson, Robin Lane, Mominah Khan, Sarah, and Leticia Drummond, are all mothers with different stories about sacrifice, hardship, and endurance.
"First and foremost I‘m a mother," Gabrielle Wilkerson remarks. She has no children at home, but after 24 years went back to Green River as a last resort. "This was probably the last place I wanted to go, I wouldn't have thought about going back to school if my husband hadn't passed two years ago." Gabrielle has found a family in Woman's Programs at GRCC.
Woman's Programs is a place that female women can go for the help and support they need to succeed in college. "I don't now how they do it," Colleen Neubert, the Director of Woman‘s Programs, exclaims. "It's amazing that they can balance work, school, and children." Colleen Neubert and Marsha Medgard work to help the women of GRCC through Woman's Programs.
It's a struggle, and it's hard, but it has made these women who they are. Many women are on financial aid, borrow books, and pay rent as much as they can.
"I have a young child and she has nobody, it's just me. I won't see her from 8am to 10pm, And I only get to spend half an hour with her. But I always give her time." Because she is going to school she is giving up her time with her child. "I am a full time student, full time mom, and working a part time job, and English is not my language," Sarah explains. "But, I have to do it, so I do."
School isn't a child's activity of choice, according to National Center For Education Statistics, dropout rates for students in Washington from 9th to 12th grade was 34.9 percent in 2004.
"My daughter quit school, my son wants to quit school, my ex-husband didn‘t finish school. And even though I had my accident I'm still able to maintain a high GPA," said Robin Lane. Fall Quarter of 2008, Robin had a stroke and still attends Green River. "When I first contacted Woman's Programs I was broken, I had just ended an abusive 13 year marriage. But the staff in Woman's Programs has given me hope for self improvement." Robin is graduating this June from GRCC.
The mothers of Green River have gone through trials and tribulations. There was agreement between the five mothers that they never have time to themselves.
"I have had to give up time with my kid, and cooking," Leticia Drummond explains. "When I have down time I'm always with my kid, whether it's playing twister, or video games with him."
Mothers day was announced a national holiday in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill that recognized it as such. Ever since many people have romanticized Mothers Day with cards from Hallmark, candies, and flowers. There is a day dedicated to mothers in nearly every country in the world, even if it isn't on the second Sunday of every May. However, many mothers aren't recognized for what they have given society, and how much they haven't gotten back for their sacrifice.
These women went back to college for others, not for themselves. "It's for my kids, and my grandkids, it's not for me." Momindah Khan states. "And if I can do it, anyone can do it." The women are investing in a future they don't see, they believe that what they are giving up now will benefit their children and grandchildren in the long run.
All five women agree that even though going to school is complicated, they wouldn‘t go back. "I don't know what will happen," Sarah explains. "But I know that it's worth everything."
"Mothers day plans anyone?" Colleen Neubert asked the group.
"Homework," was the overall reply.
These mothers demonstrate the importance of mothers day; all their hard work and sacrifice just to bless future generations.
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