At the age of 18, freshman Loren Brunson was looking forward to high school graduation and starting her first year at Elon University in the fall. After attending boarding school at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Brunson was planning to join the acting program at Elon. 

But it was just after high school that Brunson discovered the news that would forever change her life.

“I found out after I graduated that I was pregnant,” Brunson said. “I had already gotten accepted into the performing arts program at Elon.” 

According to a study done in 2015 by Do Something, an organization dedicated to campaigns, parenthood is the leading reason that teen girls drop out of school. Brunson knew that she wanted to keep her baby, but she didn’t want to give up her dream of becoming an actress.

Taking a year off

Since the baby was coming in the fall, Brunson knew she needed to figure out a plan that gave her the option of being a mom and not completely dropping out of school. 

“I needed a gap year, so I talked to the dean of academics and didn’t tell her what was going on,” Brunson said. “My referral was granted so I was with my daughter from November 2014, when she was born, to August 2015.”

That year as a stay-at-home mom gave Brunson a taste of motherhood. Having supportive parents and an equally supportive boyfriend has given her the opportunity to transition into the role of full time student and mother. 

“My family has made so many sacrifices for me,” she said. “My mom changed her work schedule and will work from 2 p.m. to midnight so that I can enjoy life as well.”

Deshe Jacob, Brunson’s boyfriend and her daughter Raelyn’s father, took off this past fall semester so that he could be with Raelyn and make the change easier for Brunson. 

“My parents and my boyfriend wanted me to live on campus and enjoy the college experience,” Brunson said.

Having a college experience

Brunson said she has been lucky enough to be able to get some of the college experience, but she realizes her experience is very different from that of her peers. But, even with a child, she is involved in different activities and has a double major and double minor.

It is a constant struggle to manage it all.

Being home for a year and jumping back into school has come with its perks, but it has also come with its downfalls for Brunson. 

“Having school work and still managing to spend time with Raelyn is really hard,” she said. “During the week, I’m usually on campus. My parents just want to ensure that I focus on school.”

Do Something found that less than 2 percent of teen moms earn a college degree by 30. Brunson didn’t think she would be able to do it without the support of Jacob and her parents. She knows she is lucky that they stand by her and want her to focus on school.

The fall semester especially proved to Brunson how difficult it is to live the life of both a mother and full-time student. 

“Some days during the week I will drive home [to Greensboro] to go see her, but FaceTime has become our best friend,” she said. 

But even with techonology, staying in constant contact with her daughter is hard.

Balancing school work and child care was easier during Winter Term because Brunson was able to stay at home and drive to her morning class because of the flexibility of the class schedule. 

“My parents are always telling me that Raelyn is so young that she doesn’t understand that mommy isn’t there because she’s at school,” she said.

Suddenly becoming a young mother wasn’t going to stop Brunson from achieving her dreams.

Since she was young, Brunson has known she wanted to become an actress. She knew that if she didn’t attend college she would have regretted it later.

“I always remember that right now I’m having to make a small sacrifice to ensure that I get my college degree, which is very important to me,” Brunson said.

She finds her inspiration and drive in her daughter and gets continuous support from her family and boyfriend.

Becoming a ‘supermom’

“Watching Loren completely take over the ‘mommy’ role has been elating,” Jacob said.

In his eyes, Brunson has always been mature enough to handle this situation, but after the baby came she matured even more and has done what a lot of girls her age don’t and couldn’t do.

The term “supermom” is how Jacob describes Brunson’s ability to take care of her daughter while working towards a degree. 

“She is double majoring and double minoring, making all A’s, which is remarkable,” Jacob said. “She stays busy but never misses the chance to spend time with our daughter. She’s our superhero and my superwoman.”

Brunson knows she has been fortunate to have such supportive people in her life, but she also knows not everyone has that same support system. She believes more universities should offer assistance to make college more manageable for students with children.

“Hopefully in the years to come, Elon will offer a childcare program,” she said. 

Schools having this kind of program would give more young mothers the chance to go to school and still be with their children.

Yet only 5 percent of colleges and universities offer on-site daycare to students with children, according to U.S. News.

According to Jana Lynn Patterson, dean of student health and wellness, Elon does not need to have a babysitting program because there is not a critical need for most students.

“Some Universities have hundreds to thousands of students with dependent children,” Paterson said. “We have less than five.”

Brunson does not feel she is lacking in the support department, but many single mothers around the country do. According to the U.S. News, student mothers and college officials cite support systems, both at school and at home, as a factor integral to achievement. 

One example of support programs for single mothers offers mentors they meet with monthly. These programs give mothers a place to go with questions about parenting, and having a mentor gives them someone they can always go to for help.

There is a childcare link on the Elon website that lists the childcare opportunities, including after-school and nanny care programs in the area. The first recommendation is the Alamance Partnership for Children is a great place to start. 

The North Carolina Division of Child Development’s website is another available resource the school cites. This is a website that allows parents to research potential facilities by town and set up site visits to specific locations.

Elon has yet to have any kind of childcare program on campus available for students with children, which is something Brunson wants to change so things are easier

“I’m just making things work,” Brunson said. “Regardless of how hard it is.”