When De\u2019Ja Reed decided to return to college, she wasn\u2019t just thinking about herself \u2014 she was thinking about her son and building a better future for her family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter Fox was born, I decided to go back to school to try to get a degree to help me get a better-paying job. I finally had the motivation. I want to give my son life experiences and be there for him in ways I didn\u2019t have due to the nature of my mom\u2019s job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her story is featured in the new episode of \u201cDay in the Life,\u201d ACC\u2019s award-winning docuseries produced in collaboration with ACCTV and Austin PBS. The episode, \u201cDay in the Life: Parenting Students,\u201d shines a light on student-parents who balance school, work, and family while pursuing their dreams \u2014 and the ACC and community programs designed to help them succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI started at ACC because I needed to be able to get an associate degree part-time while being a mom. The support I have been shown is why I chose ACC. The child care scholarship kept me in school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That scholarship wasn\u2019t the only support that helped her stay on track. De\u2019Ja also used counseling services and the food pantry \u2014 resources that made it possible to continue her studies even during difficult times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy favorite part about ACC is how much they try to provide for their students. I feel like ACC really takes an interest in their students\u2019 needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One moment stands out as a reminder of how much ACC\u2019s faculty care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy math professor really helped me focus and make sure I was taking the right path. He even helped keep my son entertained while I took a makeup test because I didn\u2019t have a sitter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, as De\u2019Ja prepares to complete her associate degree, she\u2019s setting her sights on new goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am hoping to get my bachelor\u2019s degree, but in the meantime, I am planning on taking a break and trying to become a police officer. Finishing my associate\u2019s can mean higher pay when looking for work, and trying to be a police officer means a big move out of state \u2014 back to where I am from, Southern California.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reflecting on her time at ACC, De\u2019Ja is grateful for the encouragement she found every step of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI chose ACC because of all the good things I heard about it and how my friends were getting degrees on their own time. Everyone involved in the process has been very supportive, especially when life events happened,\u201d she said. \u201cThis has been the most difficult journey of my life, and I couldn\u2019t have done it without that support. When looking at other community colleges, they don\u2019t have anything close to the support that ACC does for its student body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her advice to others considering college, especially parents, is simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo it. It\u2019s gonna be hard, but your future self will be thankful. You will receive immense support at ACC, and don\u2019t be afraid to ask for what you need. Ask for help, reach out to your teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can watch De\u2019Ja\u2019s story in \u201cDay in the Life: Parenting Students\u201d below or at austincc.edu\/acctv<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n