College students often juggle multiple responsibilities outside the classroom, such as jobs, extracurricular activities or sports.
But many have an even greater responsibility than a campus club — being a parent.
Twenty-five percent of college students in the United States have children who depend on them, according to a 2013 study conducted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
Although student parents might not be as evident on the University of Idaho campus, they exist — balancing parenthood and education — such as 23-year-old Linda Ruiz.
Ruiz is pursuing a double major in political science and Spanish, while also seeking a certificate in diversity stratification.
Ruiz gave birth to her daughter, Xandera, while she was in high school. She said being a young mother forced her to make difficult choices to get to where she is today — a semester away from graduating.
“I always had college in mind. But I was with someone who was closed minded and didn’t want me to go,” Ruiz said. “I just kind of decided to leave that relationship because it was unhealthy and that wasn’t how I wanted my daughter to grow up.”
Ruiz said she spent a majority of her senior year of high school making sure she was financially able to attend college.
During that time, she said she had enough credits that classes ended at noon, and from then on, she would work on scholarships until 3 p.m.
As she made the decision to leave her then partner, she said a sign appeared when she was moving out — her acceptance letter — motivating her toward higher education.
“I decided for myself that I was going to pursue it, and that I could do it on my own because I didn’t have someone pulling me back,” Ruiz said. “I relied so much on someone else because my culture and society kind of my told me, ‘You rely on a man to take care of you.’”
Once she came to college, Ruiz said she began to realize how unfair that belief was.
Ruiz’s parents took care of her daughter during her first year. She said she intended to live in family housing, but was later convinced to leave Xandera with family.
Ruiz said it was difficult to be away from her daughter and visited her as often as she could.
“Honestly, there wasn’t a night that I didn’t cry,” Ruiz said. “She was just so little.”
Ruiz said she knew her sacrifice and determination was worth it, leading her toward a goal that would benefit both her and her daughter.
Now 6 years old, Xandera is heading into her first year of grade school in Moscow, Ruiz said.
“I know she will put the pieces together. Once she figures it out on her own I hope she appreciates it,” Ruiz said. “I am not the type of parent who will say ‘I did this for you,’ because I feel as if I did this for me.”
She said she is proud to have overcome the prejudice often attached to raising a child at such a young age.
“I have broken so many stereotypes — one being a woman, two being a daughter of Mexican immigrants, three being a teen mom and number four being a single mom,” Ruiz said, “I hope that me coming to college inspires others.”
Ryan Buford’s education at UI began in 2003, but after a year of schooling and the birth of his daughter Nadalee, he decided to take a step back, focusing on work.
“I thought I was just taking a summer job, and that job turned into a 14-year career,” he said.
His children now grown, Buford said he was ready to return to UI and finish his degree.
“My daughter is going to be finishing high school this year, and that was kind of an eye opener — that here is the potential for my daughter to be going to school at the same time I was,” Buford said, “She would be starting college and I would be finishing it, and I wasn’t cool with that, so I figured I should probably get it done.”
Buford, who is studying English, said he lives on a homestead in Pullman with his children and partner Kari, who pushed him to continue his education after pursing her own.
“Before we moved down here, the deal was that I would help out at home … so that she could focus on her degree,” Buford said, “Then once her’s was finished, I would get mine done.”
Buford works in Facilities Services at UI and has a weekly podcast with his 13-year-old son, Colin.
He said the two discuss parenting and preparedness, featuring community members who also shed light on these topics.
Buford said he felt the podcast was necessary because certain values and concepts he was raised on aren’t being taught to youth anymore.
The podcast, titled “The Next Generation,” can be found online on Prepper Broadcasting Network and iTunes.
When it comes to balancing his education and being a parent, Buford said he hopes to set a precedent for his children.
“I can’t teach them anything except by example at this point. And if I expect them to finish college, it’s hard to put that on them if I am not willing to do that myself,” he said.
Student parents not only play a large role in their own education, but in their children’s lives, as well.
Although, they aren’t always outwardly known, these types of students exist across campus, working hard to better their families’ lives.
Overcoming stereotypes, financial roadblocks and the challenge of raising a child can be difficult, but it’s all about finding balance.