While many students depend on their parents during college, others become them.
Senior U of A student Elizabeth Jordan is raising her daughter while completing her degree.
She came to the university to study horticulture and become a farmer, but when she got pregnant her first semester, she saw a new, exciting future for herself.
“I wasn’t really scared. I was excited. I thought it was gonna be a good thing; be a mom, live on a farm, but that didn’t work out,” said Jordan.
Jordan did become a mom on a farm for a while, but after her and her child’s father broke up she moved into an apartment on campus by herself.
Her math teacher parents support her financially and emotionally, but she says having a little one still isn’t easy.
“Having a toddler is hard, really hard sometimes, but a daycare on campus that I could afford; That’d be great,” she said.
Since there is no daycare on campus, Jordan gets extra help babysitting from her freshman student sister, Emily.
She says having a child at a young age is not what she would want.
“It wouldn’t be something I’d choose for myself or for her, but I mean it changed my path a little bit too, just because I’ve gotten to be an aunt before I was expecting to,” Jordan said.
The Jordan family was not happy to hear about the pregnancy, but now they have adjusted and look forward to spending time with baby Magnolia.
“It made every kind of holiday or family get together more festive because we were getting to see our baby, too.”
Elizabeth’s life as a student mother may bring some hardship, but it also brings warmth.
“She brings love, joy to my life. It’s emotional wondering if she’s happy. I think she is a lot,” she said.