Returning student balances work, family and school at 50 years old.
By: Glory Palafox
Hector Vizcaino had dropped out of college several times. He was a father of two daughters. Vizcaino had been expected to graduate CSI that upcoming May.
“Yes, the thought of dropping out again had crossed my mind many times,” said Vizcaino. “I could not pay for school, my youngest daughter had messed up in school, and recently my mom’s knee surgery needed my care.”
At the age of 50, he would have walked the stage to obtain his bachelor’s degree in social work. As a non-traditional student, his experience changed his outlook on higher education.
He balanced financial obligations with academic goals. After dinner he had two hours to spare. He played pranks on his daughters and checked on his wife. He prioritized his wife and children.
Vizcaino worked in social services full time and had enrolled as a full time student. He had stuck to his daily routine.
His mornings had started at 4:30 a.m., preparing assignments for school. At 5:30 a.m., he and his family had prepared for school and work. At 6:30 a.m., everyone was in the car. He dropped off his wife at Sunset Park. Then he drove his daughters’ to school. At 8:30 a.m., he had driven into his job’s driveway at Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. At 3:45 p.m., he picked up his daughters from school and drove to Staten Island to attend afternoon classes. This was his routine four days a week. On weekends, Vizcaino completed assignments, household chores, and spent time with his family.
“My wife and teenage daughters were my biggest supporters,” said Vizcaino. “We had an unspoken rule that when they saw me at the dinner table with my books open, they avoided asking questions or starting conversations so I could focus.”
Having a support system helped Vizcaino return to his studies. His daughters supported their father anyway they could and his wife would care for his daughters.
He had felt “awkward” going back to school. He was often one of the oldest students in his class compared to his 20-year-old peers.
Tuition costs were also a concern where he once dropped out of college because of this. Getting a bachelor’s was supposed to fix that. He had been considered for a promotion.
Many older students had faced financial struggles when deciding whether or not returning to school is worth it. A full-time undergraduate resident student enrolled at CSI is expected to pay $3,465 per semester. There were additional costs such as the parking fee, cost of meals, and cost of textbooks. For parents, child care had been a concern. Vizcaino had teenage daughters which made them more independent than adolescents.
Parents chose between prioritizing a better future for their children or to support their children in the present. Roughly one in five undergraduate students in the U.S. are parents. Despite most student parents being mothers, about one in three are fathers.
“Hector in my sociology class,” said Nell Nadstazik “I struggle to complete assignments and work full time. I can’t imagine having to take care of a family on top of that.”
Vizcaino planned ahead to complete his assignments. He handled deadlines and midterms by studying two weeks in advance. He had used the same approach two years earlier. It gave him enough time to proofread and seek help if needed.
“I have become more goal-oriented and focused on my priorities—no matter what,” said Vizcaino. “In the past, I would put everyone else’s needs before my own. I have learned to focus on achieving my bachelor’s degree while still balancing my responsibilities.”
