By: ALICIA FLORES
Staff Writer
aaflores@umail.iu.edu
I’m a 25-year-old junior at IU South Bend. I’m majoring in mass communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in business.
I am interning for The Preface this fall as a writer and working part time in the Education and Arts Building’s advising suite.
I grew up in South Bend and graduated from John Adams High School in 2009, so I did not go far from home when choosing to attend IU South Bend. I am in need of a change in surroundings, so when I graduate I hope to move outside of South Bend.
Don’t get me wrong. It is comforting to see my old stomping grounds just down the street or to run into someone I went to high school with, but everyone needs change at some point in their life.
I love the bigger cities like Chicago and Indianapolis, so I am hoping my degree will take me closer to one of those cities. I love all the things bigger cities have to offer. There are so many opportunities and things to do.
I have two beautiful, little girls that keep me busy when I am not on campus. My oldest is seven years old and my youngest is four. They are the reasons I am here today. I want to be a good influence in their lives by teaching them to be strong, independent women one day.
As a single parent, working, going to school full time and raising kids is not the easiest task, but I am doing it to better our future.
With my degree I hope to get a decent-paying job that I enjoy and to be able to provide for my kids as my parents did for my brother and me. I hope they will look up to me and go off to college to pursue their dreams one day.
I did not start college right after I graduated. I took some time to raise my daughter and really think about what I wanted in life, and I am glad I did. I was only 19 with a child and learning how to be an adult, so college was not even on my mind at that time. After a few years of just living life and growing up I realized I was ready to go to school, so I started in the fall of 2012 and couldn’t be happier with my decision.
Since I have been a student, I have made dean’s list a few times. I am getting closer to achieving my goals. Had I started college in the fall of 2009 I would not have been successful.
Besides being a full time mother and student, I spend my free time hula hooping. Whenever I have free time I am spending it with my sacred circle. I have been hooping for about three years and absolutely love it! It is the best stress reliever, workout and—since I am a terrible dancer—the best dance partner!
Wherever I go there is always at least one hoop in my trunk for use at any spare moment. I usually hoop at local EDM shows or nearby events, but for practice I am basically anywhere that has enough open space. So if you see someone hula hooping in the parking lot from time to time that would be me! Feel free to say hi or come join me!
