The life and times of the commuter

Getting ready for class has a double meaning for Shalonda Harrell. Like all college students, she has to arrange her clothes, make sure she has everything she needs for class and, since she is a commuter student, ensure there is enough gas in the car. Then, when all of this is done, she has to prepare for another class – her 3-year-old daughter’s pre-kindergarten class.

“My routine is to wake up around 6 a.m. because I sometimes go to the gym,” said Harrell. “I wake Sanai up about 7:30 so she will be in school by 8:30. We both get ready and I take her to school and then I go to school. I then attend classes or meetings that I have for that day. I come home, we eat dinner and get ready for bed. We don’t have too much TV time until the weekend.”

Harrell is a 24-year old single mother working her way through Virginia Wesleyan to ensure a sound future for her daughter, Sanai, and herself. She is studying Psychology/Criminal Justice and plans to earn a master’s and a doctorate degree in forensic psychology. Her ultimate goal is to become a FBI agent.

While most commuter students are worrying about selecting classes that don’t interfere with beach time or don’t conflict with Oprah, Harrell has to avoid classes that conflict with getting Sanai to school and decide what books Sanai will be treated to each night. Having a child and being in school could drive some people crazy. But not Shalonda; she’s always there to help and motivate her friends. In the morning, when Shalonda is in class, so is Sanai. In the afternoon, Shalonda’s grandmother takes over. She watches Sanai until Shalonda has finished with classes. Having family around makes succeeding with a toddler much easier.

“For me, it is not hard because I have my friends and family who give me all the support that I need,” said Harrell. “But I will say that ‘if I didn’t have them it would be a challenge.’”

Going to community college right after high school, Shalonda got pregnant with twins. Due to complications in her pregnancy, she needed to take some time off. Most may not finish school, but for Shalonda education is very important.

Not only is Shalonda a student, she is also involved in extracurricular activities.

“I am very involved with organizations on campus,” said Harrell. “I am the president of BSU and SGA senior senator and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. It is very hard to keep my commitments sometimes because I have to make sure that my daughter is situated first. She is priority. I am fortunate because things always seem to work out for me.”

Being involved in campus activities is a big responsibility for anyone. Students complain all the time about work they need to do and meetings they need to attend, but for some it’s the outcome that makes it worthwhile.

“I think it is important to be involved because it helps you to create a balance for yourself and to enjoy being apart of a group of organization,” said Harrell. “Many of these activities help you create the person that you will ultimately become after your college experience.”

Even when you think no one’s watching and analyzing things, someone always is, even if they are 3 years old.

“I think that she understands that education is very important,” said Harrell. “I believe that everything I do will benefit us in the future.”

“I view her as being the type of woman and mother that I hope to some day be,” said junior Channaile Gordon. “She inspires me. I can only imagine that her duties often get heavy. However, she handles her life with grace.”