Back to School, Forward in Life: Returning to College as a Working Adult and Parent
Returning to college as a working adult and parent isn’t just a singular decision. It is a wide reaching domino effect of decisions. The impacts of choosing this journey impact your self-growth, family dynamics, and professional advancement. It means juggling deadlines while planning your child’s activities, attending lectures after work shifts, and studying late into the night when the house is finally quiet. It’s not easy, but it can certainly be worth it.
Why Go Back?
Many working adults return to school for one of three reasons: to advance in their careers, to pivot into a new field, or to fulfill a personal goal left on pause. For parents, there’s often an added motivation. The goal of doing what we can to help make life better for our children. My decision to return was actually a combination of all of these reasons.
The Balancing Act
Time becomes your most valuable currency. Between work meetings, family obligations, and academic demands, every hour counts. Success often hinges on strategic planning:
Create a realistic schedule. Prioritize classes that align with your workload and family needs.
Do not be ashamed of only taking one class at a time. Taking extra time to finish is better than not reaching your goals.
Lean on support systems. Whether it’s a spouse, co-parent, or your children’s bedtime routines, building a stable rhythm matters.
My wife has been my foundation through three degrees while working full time. She helps our family stay on schedule and not stray off of our rhythm.
Embrace flexibility. Online and hybrid classes can be game-changers. So can professors who understand that your toddler may occasionally appear on Zoom.
What You Gain
Aside from a diploma, going back to school can reignite your confidence. It sharpens critical thinking, strengthens communication skills, and reinforces discipline. You gain tools that elevate your job performance and, places you in position to form new connections
It also reshapes how your children see education. When kids watch their parents take learning seriously, it sends a powerful message: learning never stops, and growth is always possible.
Challenges Are Real
There will be moments of self-doubt. Moments when the exhaustion feels overwhelming. There will be nights when you have to stay up well past midnight, only to have to report to work early the next morning. But those are the moments that build grit. Personally for me the most difficult challenge is balancing getting assignments done and spending time with friends and family. But the struggles are temporary and the pay out will be worth it in the end.
Final Thoughts
Returning to college isn’t about being the perfect student. It’s about being a determined one. It’s about showing up, even when you’re tired. It’s about building a better future.
So if you’re standing at the crossroads of work, parenthood, and school, know this: you’re not alone. And you’re more ready than you think.