By Brigette Carreiro

Attending college comes with all kinds of responsibilities. Balancing school work, part-time jobs, finding internships, and maintaining relationships is usually more than enough for the average college student to handle. For those who double as parents, the collegiate experience can be even more demanding.

Kate Kelley, 26, understands this dilemma all too well. With an approaching due date of Dec. 30, she finds herself juggling a pregnancy along with the demands that college requires.

“My last final this semester is on Dec. 11, and my expectant due date is about two weeks later,” she said. “So it’s cutting it pretty close.”

Kelley excitedly revealed that she and her fiancé are expecting a baby girl, and said that her pregnancy has resulted in a differences between other students and herself.

“My mindset is completely different than the typical undergrad,” said Kelley, a senior. Because of her age and pregnancy, Kelley thinks her college experience differs from most undergrads, and she has planned her schedule and workload accordingly to create the best situation possible for herself.

“I’m only taking three courses, so my workload is so small,” said the psychology major. “I planned it very well.”

Despite a semester with one course less than average, Kelley is facing the challenge of looking into graduate schools. She said she intends to start a 12-month master’s degree program for education after her baby is born.

“I’m studying to take the Graduate Record Examination. I’ll be taking it almost 35 weeks pregnant,” she said. “That’s what I’m really stressing about. Applying to graduate school is just added on top of it.”

Nevertheless, Kelley still feels the challenges of being a college student while expecting a baby so soon.

“The hardest thing about being a student and being pregnant is the hills,” she joked, laughing and pointing to Bowdoin Street’s steep incline. “I live on the waterfront, so I walk to school and have to cut out time from my morning to get here.”

Remaining attentive during class has also been a struggle, according to Kelley.

“Pregnancy brain is real,” she said emphatically, referring to forgetfulness that is said to be common among expectant mothers. “Staying focused sometimes is hard. If you’re sitting in an hour class, first of all it’s uncomfortable, and you drift off thinking about things like baby showers.”

Kelley described how she has felt a sense of community and support here at Suffolk, and said that her overall experience of being a student while expecting a baby is positive.

“People having questions is cute, and I feel like I can relate to professors really well by talking about kids,” she said.

Kelley said she would encourage other students to continue to take classes while experiencing a pregnancy.

“Get as many credits under your belt as you can,” she said. “It’s not the end.”

The Off-Campus Housing Office and Counseling, Health, and Wellness Center co-sponsor an event once a month that brings student-parents together. The event is meant to draw support for students in this situation, according to the Director of OCHO, Yvette Velez.

“This program is a private networking and support program, offering students who identify as parents an opportunity to mingle with those just like themselves,” said Velez.

Women’s ability to pursue an education while becoming a parent is something that Kelley mentioned she strongly endorses.

“It is possible to have it all, it really is, and you’re a stronger person for doing so,” she said.