It's common for parents to make sacrifices for their children, especially when it comes to receiving a good education -- but what about their own educational pursuits?
Today, we’re taking the time to celebrate the accomplishments of student parents. In light of the recency of Father’s Day, we dove into the challenges of student parents, featuring one of our student graduates, Levi M., a father and a student.
The prevalence of student-parents may surprise you. In Canada, 22% of college students are parents. Being a parent and a student do not have to be mutually exclusive; many traits of parenthood prepare you for being a great student.
A few days after the 2023 Calgary graduation celebration, we sat down with Levi, a Digital Marketing and Social Media Management graduate and 2023 Valedictorian speaker, to talk about his experience as a student parent at Sundance College.
“Studying at Sundance College is really an investment and right now I'm getting that reward.”
Coming to College (and Canada)
Balancing Parenthood and Education
Coming to College (and Canada)
Levi spent much of his adult life in the Philippines before moving to Canada to join his wife and daughter in 2015. Levi worked in the media for almost five years upon arrival in Calgary, but discovered he needed an education to progress further in his career.
Approaching 50, Levi was pleased to see he could obtain an education in Canada, which he says was substantially different from his educational experience in the Philippines.
“Getting an education in the Philippines is an uphill battle” Levi explained.
“I was surprised because in Canada the government really puts an emphasis on education, and they have a lot of programs and incentives for you to study. This was great because you never stop learning throughout your whole life and I really wanted to learn everything I could.”
However, Levi was nervous as he was almost 50 years old and his program is digital marketing, a field that attracts a lot of millennial and Gen Z students.
“Coming in, I was worried other students might see me as an aging dinosaur compared to them! It was nerve wracking at first.” However, when I looked at Sundance and their Digital Marketing and Social Media Management program, both were excellent and there was really no contest …I knew immediately that I wanted to enrol with Sundance College.”
“The program is really relevant, the curriculum is current, and throughout my program, I not only learned the technical aspects but also about building a career and managing a Digital Marketing business”, Levi added.
“For me Sundance College's Digital Marketing program was a complete package”. It includes:
- Current digital marketing software, applications and techniques relating to Google, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms;
- Industry-experienced instructors;
- Critical soft skill courses that support workplace success, such as communications, time-management, student learning strategies, and career management; and
- A five-week practicum with a marketing firm, building students’ resumes with real-life work experience in the new field and promoting their employability in the field.
Balancing Parenthood and Education
Going back to college as an adult can be a tough decision, especially if you have a family. However, parenthood is much like college: rewarding, but difficult. While it isn’t easy to be a parent and pursue further education, 22% of college students succeed every year. Levi shared his tips with us on how to manage the parent/student balance:
Remember You’re Not Alone
Having a support network is essential for any student, but especially for those who are also parents. For many, family is their number one support. Levi is no exception.
Although Levi’s wife was skeptical at first, his family’s support helped him graduate with honours at the recent Sundance College Graduation Ceremony in front of friends, family, colleagues, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, adding that his spouse “was one of the major forces that pushed me to finish the program.”
Levi was one of Sundance College’s two Valedictorians – a role awarded to the highest achieving student within a program – in which he acknowledged his role as a father to his daughter, Alex, and told her to complete tasks with “panache.”
“I can’t let her down by being a middling example, right?” he asked rhetorically on Graduation Day. “All that a parent can hope for is that we inspire the next generation to be better than us.”
Stay Motivated
Following the ceremony Levi expanded on his advice for parents. “You have to motivate yourself - do not belittle whatever you accomplish,” Levi said, pointing to the additional responsibilities a parent working full-time may have over their fellow students.
College diplomas aren’t just handed to anyone who wants one – they’re earned with hard work and dedication. It’s crucial to remember why you’ve decided to pursue your dreams and a college education. Often, this centers around your child and providing a better life for them.
“Going to College is really like making an investment in yourself, so you put in a lot more effort. It's not just tuition, it's more about time, especially for parents. So, by investing for your own future, you know that you will be better off.”
In fact, studies have directly linked educational attainment with higher salaries and health, so earning a diploma will in most cases result in a return on this investment over the course of a graduates’ working lifetime.
Manage Your Time
A common worry for students preparing for college is time management. Levi explained how he lived a busy life, combining his studies, his job, and assisting his wife and daughter with the day-to-day of running their business.
Fortunately, the flexible nature of Sundance College’s programs allowed him to learn the knowledge, skills and capabilities in an easy-to-learn manner.
Sundance’s flexibility also allowed him to learn from the comfort of his own home. Courses are designed to be completed within a specific time, but students are able to progress faster or slower within the timeframe depending on your immediate availability.
Of particular help, says Levi “one of the first modules was about time management! When I saw there were courses on time management skills, I was surprised. It made me realize Sundance really cares about their students.”
Choose the Right School
The college you attend should have a strong support system to ensure its students’ success. It’s important to find an institution to work with you on this journey.
Levi’s journey prior to joining Sundance College was far from smooth sailing. Personal problems affected Levi at home in the Philippines, having “just barely grazed” his way through high school followed by an unpleasant college experience.
“Originally, I started with another college, but it was more of just receiving a syllabus, assignments, and then just submitting it. But with Sundance, your instructors are with you all the way, step-by-step helping to ensure you stay on track and asking, ‘What's really motivating you.’”
His wife's graduation with honors a few years prior inspired Levi; he was understandably beaming with pride when she graduated and used this to motivate himself through to his own graduation with honors.
“I kept wanting to pinch myself. I was thinking it was just a dream,” Levi said. “The entire day I was thinking ‘I finally made it’ and I want to really live up to the moment. That's why I kept saying carpe diem: seize the day.”
When asked whether Sundance College is suitable for student parents, Levi replied: “I'm living proof of it!”
From an instructional standpoint “my instructor was always available – whenever I asked, he was really fast in answering which was brilliant.”
“It's kind of like going to the gym. You can go to the gym, start off on your course to get fit, but there are times that you won't be able to do it. That's why you need a personal trainer who can tailor a program for you to motivate you and support you when you achieve something.”
Graduation and Going Forward
Going forward Levi plans to use his education to develop his career online, toying with several ideas including working for an employer, establishing his own business, becoming an influencer or other pursuing even bigger ideas, adding: “the sky’s the limit for me now.”
While currently running a business with his wife, the freedom to choose his own path is “one of the best things I've learned from Sundance” and Levi plans to use his education to build a successful career in digital and social media.
“Studying at Sundance is really an investment and right now I'm reaping the rewards of that investment,” he said. “Prior to studying with Sundance, I was just going with the flow, being just an employee. But through studying I got the reins for my future. I have lofty dreams, but now I have the means.”
Other students of the Digital Marketing and Social Media Management program are also finding a breadth of career opportunities upon graduation. There is significant demand for trained digital marketers, be they small, medium or large businesses. Businesses recognize that digital marketing is a critical field that is at the forefront of promoting their business and acquiring new customers.
Sundance Success
At Sundance College, our mission is to “support student success”. Whether a staff member works in admissions, student finance, administration, education or career services, all staff work together to support that common goal…supporting our students to be successful.
Along with that, Sundance recognizes that student parents are busy people with busy schedules. And different schedules. So, whether a student can attend online lectures during regular daytime delivery periods or needs to study online while working a week on and a week off at a camp, or busy with the kids during the daytime but available to study at 3:00 a.m. in their pyjamas, Sundance College programs are tailored to meet the needs of parents.
Levi is one of our many graduates at Sundance College. If his story has inspired you, be sure to check out our website for more information or contact our Career Services team for more information. You can also check out our Digital Marketing and Social Media Management program.