Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Laura Butler The Poling family, consisting of Jeff, Anita, Pete and Jeff Jr., took a break together to catch up between classes. Each family member is working toward completion of a degree at Eastern.

Media Credit: Laura Butler

Non-traditional students Anita and Jeff Poling have managed to make higher education a family affair.

Not only do both husband and wife attend Eastern, but they also have two sons attending the university.

While many would find attending school with so many family members at the same time slightly odd, for this family, it's become just another part of life.

"I don't really think it's odd," said Pete Shrock, a homeland security major and the older of the two sons attending Eastern. "It's our first semester all together at the same school and I haven't really noticed many drastic changes."

However, for two members of the family, mother Anita, a public relations major, and her youngest son, Jeff Jr., who are each freshman on the verge of completing their first semester, changes abound.

Anita decided to seek higher education after she found herself in an "unfavorable situation" at the doctor's office where she was employed. She decided her best option was to ease her way out of the position and, to even her own surprise, she found herself being accepted at Eastern.

"I decided to take the ACT at first just to see how I compared to my children," Anita said. "But, after I did well, I told myself if I was accepted and I managed to get a scholarship, I would go back to school."

Anita was accepted and after being awarded a presidential scholarship, along with Jeff Jr., she began her first semester as a non-traditional student.

Anita now finds herself juggling a part-time job, a full-time schedule at school and all the chores and responsibilities that come with being a mother.

"The laundry is definitely piling up," Anita said. "And I find that with all the chaos of school and work, we're eating fewer and fewer meals together as a family. We all have such busy schedules and it's almost like we're all fending for ourselves."

With busy schedules and each member of the family juggling classes, homework and jobs, more than just the laundry pile has changed at home.

"We all take different classes and are interested in different things," said Anita. "I find that I have so much I want to talk about and the guys come home with stories too. There's almost a competition for conversation at home now."

However, the family has also managed to use their time on campus to meet up and stay in touch.

Pete, a homeland security major who no longer lives at home, finds that he has actually been able to visit more with his family now than he did before they all began their first semester together.

"Sometimes I'll meet my mom or brother for lunch or something," said Pete. "It's actually allowed me to be a little lazy when it comes to visiting with my family. It's saved me from driving to them so often."

The family has noticed a few other positives about their current situation. "We all attend the same school, which means we get to share a sense of school spirit and pride," Anita said.

Jeff Sr., who is currently working on an associate degree, agrees.

"Attending Eastern as family has brought about a sense of closeness," Jeff said. "We've been able to find things on campus to do together. I get lunch with my wife and I've gone to a football game with my son."

Unless the family makes an effort to plan lunch or an outing, they find that on such a big campus they rarely see one another while at school.

Pete and Jeff Jr. actually have one general education course together, though, and according to Pete, the brotherly relationship carries over into the classroom.

"I like to pick on him during class," he said. "It's not so bad having him in class with me though."

Pete admits that they even help one another with work if it's ever needed.

While Jeff Jr. denies that he gets picked on during class, he readily admits that he feels like his own mother shows him up a bit when it comes to their course load.

"She works more hours, takes more credit hours, and still makes better grades than I do," he said. "But, she's a good example of how hard work pays off."

Anita admits that all the things she and her husband carry on their shoulders on a daily basis sometimes makes things pretty difficult.

"It's not always easy," she said. "I feel like I'm chronically behind sometimes and it doesn't help that I procrastinate badly."

However, Anita and her husband hope that in the end their hard work will not only pay off personally, but will instill a passion for learning in their children.

They hope that by continuing their education, even when they're considered non-traditional, they can pass on the drive that each parent possesses when it comes to education.

"I'm proud of my grades so far," Anita said. "I think it really shows that you can be a mom, an employee and a student with good grades all at the same time if you just apply yourself."

Their sons have seen the benefits of having parents who are choosing to further their education early on.

"I think it's great that they're going back to school," said Pete. "I even think it's made our sisters consider going back to school. They've already instilled in us the importance of an education."

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