Many of us see student mothers on campus, but few realize the hard work and dedication it takes for these single, young women to raise a child and go to school at the same time. Where most of us stress out about upcoming tests, weekend activities or work, these women must do all this plus raise a child.

The Associated Students, Inc. Children?s Center on campus provides help and relief for many student mothers who wouldn?t be able to attend school without it. The center opened in 1971, and only preschool care was available at first with 20 children enrolled in the morning program and 20 in the afternoon program.

The current building on State University Drive East was built in 1988, and the center started its night program in 1992. According to director Teri Mahan, there are 293 children currently in the program, 85 percent of which are children of students. The other 15 percent are children of staff and faculty.

The Children?s Center offers subsidy assistance through two state and federal grants. Forty to 50 percent of student families are eligible for this care, and must apply each semester to receive it. Many student mothers depend on this subsidy assistance to return to school. Samantha Howard, 23, takes her daughter Emma to the Children?s Center and feels that the program fulfills her and her daughter?s needs. Howard?s husband is in the navy and away for six months.

“I?m on the subsidized program now. Before, I got a bill for a lot of money that I didn?t have and I had to think about giving up school to work more to pay for childcare,” Howard said. “School is more difficult than when I wasn?t a mom. My study time has cut down a lot, but Emma has given me a more focused direction in life, she is fulfilling.”

Howard, an English major with a 4.0 grade-point average since returning to school two years ago, said she misses all the social activities of most college students her age.

“I was in a sorority before at Sac State, and when I came back to school and passed the quad I did feel a little sad,” Howard said. “But I already experienced that and I?ve moved onto a new phase in my life, and I?m very happy.”

Nai Brittany?s social life was cut short when she had her daughter Sydney at only 15 years old.

It?s very hard to raise a child all by yourself. All of the time I do have is dedicated to her,” Brittany said. “Before, when I lived in L.A., my grandmother was helping me financially, but now I?m on my own and never realized it would be this difficult.”

Now 19 years old, Brittany is a Criminal Justice major taking a full load of classes, and wants to go to grad school to become a lawyer. Brittany utilizes the Children?s Center day program, which she says is very convenient, but very hard to get into.

“There?s a long waiting list for the day program and we just got in after waiting for a year and a half,” Brittany said.

The center allows single mothers like Brittany to further their education, work and be able to be good role models for their children.

Rebecca Freeland, 25, has a 2- year-old daughter named Taylor who is deaf with cerebral palsy and a few other disabilities. Freeland, majoring in child psychology, decided to go back to school because getting a degree makes her feel more secure about her and her daughter?s future.

A typical day for Rebecca and Taylor begins at 4 a.m. Taylor has a sleeping disorder, and Rebecca stays up with her so she won?t be alone. After Rebecca feeds Taylor breakfast, they head off to the Children?s Center. Rebecca goes to school until 3 p.m., then takes Taylor to therapy and various doctors appointments four times a week.

After that, Rebecca goes to work at a church children?s center on Wednesday, Thursday and every other Tuesday. When work is over, she studies and goes to bed, then starts the next day all over again.

Rebecca uses the Children?s Center five days a week, and she said it?s amazing at taking care of her daughter?s needs. Rebecca said the hardest thing about her situation is not having a big support group for her daughter?s disabilities. She now has to work harder than she would have had to normally, but her grades have not suffered and neither has her spirit.

“I love my daughter,” Rebecca said. “She keeps me going and wanting to get a degree to help us be financially secure.” For these three women, the Children?s Center has played an integral role in allowing them to go to school, work and provide for their children all by themselves. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the day program, and Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to10 p.m. for the Evening Program. For more information on the ASI Children?s Center, call (916) 278-6216.

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