In response to the challenges faced by student parents, Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Council has committed €20,000 over five years to a new fund,designed to alleviate the financial burdens that arise during school holidays. This initiative highlights the complex balancing act that many student parents at Trinity navigate daily; managing the demands of academia alongside the responsibilities of raising children. But what does life truly look like for a student with children?
Asling Deegan, a first-year clinical speech and language studies student, shared that her day usually begins at seven o’clock. “I have to get up, usually around seven, get ready very fast, and get my son ready very fast,” she explained. After dropping off her four-year-old son at the morning club, she races to campus, often just in time for her nine o’clock class.
First-year psychology student Debora’s days follow a similar rhythm. With her 12-year-old daughter in primary school, her days start early as she navigates getting her child ready before attending lectures. “Most of my lectures end at four or six. So I finish and go pick her up at school, and then I go home to do the chores, the food, the cleaning […] it is a bit stressful,” she admitted.
Olena Romanova, a psychology student from Ukraine raising a nine-year-old son with autism, echoed the same sentiment. She described her struggles, saying: “The most difficult days are when something goes wrong… I need to organise babysitting or change my plans.”
For many student parents, this weight of responsibility can feel isolating, particularly when their peers are engaged in social activities that seem out of reach. “You know, because so many of the other students are so young, and they are always talking about parties. I don’t have anything to say about parties; I don’t go,” Debora said.“That’s the only thing I would love. Going out with my colleagues. They are always on our WhatsApp group planning to go somewhere, I wish I could go just for one day,”she added.
Despite these hurdles, the motivation driving students-parents is profound. For many, the desire to create a better future for their families fuels their commitment to education. Deegan reflected on her choice to return to college after having her son, stating, “I just want to be a good example for him.”
Debora echoed this sentiment, noting that her education serves as an important lesson for her daughter. “What motivates me is the future […] I want to show my daughter that education is important,” she shared.
For Romanova, pursuing her studies isn’t just a path to financial stability; it is also a way to find personal fulfilment. “Picking up to go and study again and get a degree in psychology, it was not only for money but for my self-esteem. For my child as well, it’s really important to know that you shouldn’t sacrifice your dreams just to navigate this life and survive.”
Such resilience, as Romanova continued, is a lesson one can pass on: “Don’t show your children that you are struggling just because you have obligations to pay bills and all this stuff, you have to fulfil yourself as well. Always ask yourself: What do I want to do in this life?”
In recognition of Recognising the challenges student parents and others face, Trinity offers various financial aids to alleviate the burdens. Deegan expressed her gratitude for these provisions: “There are so many different financial funds that I can get. I applied for the student assistant fund and for the 1960 bursary, and if I get that, then I really won’t have to worry about anything.”
However, not all of these aids are accessible for all students. As Romanova shared, “In my case, it’s a bit difficult, because there are support services in Ireland, for Mature Students and parents [for EU citizens]. But I’m not an EU citizen and under temporary protection, so sometimes they don’t work for me.”
On the pastoral side, the TCDSU has also formed a support network specifically for student parents, hoping to address their unique challenges. Katelyn Mullan Galvin, the Student Carer Officer, emphasised the importance of these groups, stating, “It’s crucial for student parents to have a voice on campus. We aim to create spaces where they can share their experiences and find solidarity.”
Many student parents find comfort in connecting with peers who understand their struggles. Debora highlighted the importance of these interactions: “I have two friends in my class who are moms,” she said, “and we often talk about our challenges.”
The TCDSU support network also organises events that allow student parents to include their children in the academic environment. Activities like family-friendly gatherings create opportunities for bonding and interaction for both parents and children, allowing student parents to navigate college life without leaving their children behind. Deegan expressed her excitement about these initiatives, noting, “It’s nice that my son will be able to be involved in college. He’s always so curious as to what I’m doing here, and he loves it when I bring him around.”
While the College has made strides in supporting student parents, significant gaps remain. For example, current childcare facilities at Trinity only accommodate children up to four and a half years, leaving student parents with older children without sufficient care options. Mullan Galvin pointed out, “Quite a lot of student parents have children who are in primary school, and they need care for their children when the primary school day is over.” This forces parents to choose between their education and their responsibilities at home.
Deegan, who sometimes has to bring her son to her mandatory afternoon lectures due to a lack of adequate childcare past 5pm, shared that “a lot of the lecturers, won’t say anything to me, but they’ll maybe make a comment, or they’ll give me a look, that makes it very clear that they’re not very happy that I have my son with me. But I would rather have that than repeat a module in the summer because I couldn’t get childcare sorted for that day.”
Moreover, while certain College policies exist to address specific issues that arise from being a student parent, as Mullan Galvin noted, consistent enforcement is a critical issue. For instance, the College commits itself to “prioritise family-friendly timetables” where feasible, but as Deegan’s story shows, sometimes these commitments aren’t met.
Despite the challenges these students face, progress is being made. . As Mullan Galvin n, put it,: ”the student body has fundamentally changed. There are students who work, there are students who look after loved ones, who are parents, and we need a level playing field”, for all these people to succeed academically.”
