By Brit Hutchison

Features Co-Editor

Imagine you have to wake up at least four hours before your class every morning. You, your husband and your three kids have to fight for the shower and get ready in the next hour. After making the family breakfast, getting the kids on the bus and straightening the house quickly, you can finally drive to class. When you get home at night, there are kids to watch, dinner to make, laundry to do and homework. Sonia Sundberg, a sophomore at Calvin, doesn't have to imagine; juggling motherhood, marriage, and schooling is a reality for her every day.

Sundberg is just one of many here at Calvin who are ``non-traditional'' students: students who have decided to come back to school, juggling their family life and work with a hectic college schedule.

These older students find themselves here at Calvin for different reasons, all depending on their life situations. Sundberg, who attended another college in the `80, is back again to complete a degree in social work, a move based on self-improvement, not career advancement.

``I am very thankful for the opportunity to attend college now and eventually move into a part-time career, in addition to my main career of being a wife and mom,'' said Sundberg.

``[My husband and I] think that it's important to finish what you start, even if it's many years later,'' she said. ``It's a good example for our kids. How can I insist to my children that they pursue a college education, when I didn't finish?''

Shannon Novac, a single mom starting her first year at Calvin, is primarily motivated to attend Calvin so that she can advance in her career to better provide for her kids.

``I'd been home to care for my kids, and hadn't pursued a degree in any way,'' she said. ``I had to do pretty drastic things in order to provide for us.''

According to Novac, trying to balance family and college can mean not making the grades that she is capable of, simply because of lack of time.

``...I've become more of a perfectionist over the years...I've come to the conclusion that I do the very best I can with the time I have,'' she said. ``This may not translate into an A but in a way, I have to settle.''

For Novac, time spent with the family is of utmost importance, but must be compromised because of college- a sacrifice she believes will pay off in the end.

``Taking care of my children is very difficult these days, but I have no choice, so I do what I have to do,'' she said. ``They are making sacrifices with me in this decision ... however, we are all looking toward the future and what it will hold for us.''

Older students can be spotted in classrooms and around campus, but many times it's hard to tell them apart from the staff.

``I get puzzling looks from younger students,'' Sundberg said. ``I guess I don't look like faculty or staff so students wonder.''

``Sometimes I still feel a little out of place while I'm walking from place to place on campus,'' she said. ``Generally, I'm just happy to be here and thankful for the opportunity, so I just go about my business.''

According to Sundburg, early in the semester there is awkwardness between her and classmates, but eventually it subsides when students get to know about her.

``I sense the curiosity about me from my classmates at the beginning of each semester,'' she said. `` I don't mind it because I know that I am an unusual student at Calvin.''

``It seems that once my fellow classmates get to know me they will become accustomed to my presence in the class and all is fine.''

Novac agreed. ``The first few weeks the age difference was a huge deal!'' she said. ``I felt it, and allowed it to be a hindrance at first.'' ``Then, as people get to know me, there was a realization that I am just like them in many ways.''

According to Sundberg, students who are parents voiced that they want to feel comfortable in their classes and interact with classmates, but there is a divide that can't be crossed.

``I don't expect 18-22 year- olds to have the maturity a 40-year-old should have,'' she said. ``I don't want to be one of the group, though I want to be accepted as I am.''

Considering this, many student parents feel isolated in a student body that is predominantly made up of young adults.

``There are times when I feel lonely ... I am different than those around me,'' said Novac. ``I sometimes long for their freedom, when I listen to their conversations ... sometimes I wish I could have back those years prior to children when I had all the time in the world-of course not realizing it.''

However, both Novac and Sundberg agree that there are benefits to being exposed to the young student body on a daily basis.

``There is something very refreshing, however, about being surrounded by those younger than me ... it rubs off!'' said Novak. ``I have spent a lot of time working with youth so there is some familiarity there.''

``I feel young at heart, so I am very comfortable around younger people,'' adds Sundberg. ``There are times when I realize how different my life is from the life of a typical Calvin student and I see that years have given me the opportunity to mature.''

According to many student parents, the faculty has been especially important in their integration and success in the classroom.

``The staff has been very supportive in assisting me in charting this new course for my life,'' said Novak. ``My professors are also more than willing to offer help and advice.''

``I've really enjoyed the relationship I've been able to have with my professors,'' said Sundberg. ``They've been very accepting and encouraging and I think they appreciate my input from time to time.''

``For me, they try to empathize with my situation,'' she adds. ``It shows that they care about their students when they connect with us.''

Surprisingly, though, Sundberg's biggest challenge was not related to the age difference between her and other students.

``My biggest challenge at Calvin has been adjusting to the technological change since I first went to college in the early `80s,'' said Sundberg. ``If I would suggest one thing Calvin could give to students like me it would be a `crash course' on how to access modern technology, computers, etc.''

Calvin's financial and counseling services are much appreciated by these student parents, who take every opportunity to use them.

In the past, Calvin has sponsored a support group for student parents through the Broene center, which is not in effect this year, but the Center still offers individual counseling for these students.

``Calvin has helped me by providing wonderful financial support,'' said Novak. ``Also, the fact that there is counseling available for students is a huge bonus.''

In addition to the opportunities, a campus filled with young adults provides a plentiful supply of prospective babysitters, Novak also adds.