One in five college students is a parent, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. They move across campus, balancing coursework, employment and caregiving responsibilities, quietly pursuing degrees that shape not just their futures, but their families’ too.
At Fresno State, Danielle Rose is one such student. A first-generation student in college, she is earning a master’s degree in marriage, family, and child counseling while also preparing to welcome her first child.
“I was terrified,” she said, recalling when she found out she was pregnant. “I still had a summer and fall semester left.”
But Rose was able to rely on campus resources, support from mentors and close personal ties to help navigate the change.
Rose benefited from parent scholar programming at Fresno State. Parent scholar services address the unique challenges faced by student parents as they balance school, work and parenting responsibilities.
The program connects students to resources such as priority registration, free diapers, childcare options, lactation stations, financial aid and more.
“Free diapers have been super beneficial to me,” Rose said. “I was able to stock up and prepare for the baby as well as connect with the other services.”
Rose also mentioned her use of the Lil Bulldog Boutique, which offers free children’s clothing for student parents or students with younger siblings.
“It felt surreal — I grabbed my baby’s first onesies, held them in my hands, and it felt so affirming to be in that moment,” she said. “I was a mom, a college student, and I felt safe and seen. Plus, it was nice how there were so many sizes, so I can still visit and have options for my baby as he grows.”
Raised in Kingsburg, California, as the granddaughter of a fieldworker, Rose recalled having limited resources.
“My family grew up in survival mode,” she shared. “Financial strain was a constant, and college wasn’t something we knew how to navigate. But my family worked so hard for all that they have, and that brings me a deep sense of pride and joy.”
A new chapter begins
Today, Rose is surrounded by her husband, Robbie, her extended family, a close-knit group of friends, and mentors and colleagues in her master’s program.
“Robbie has been a solid foundation for me throughout this journey, and I wouldn’t have been able to make it this far without him,” she said. “[My network] has been my moral and emotional compass.”
As a part of her master’s program, Rose gains hands-on clinical experience through Fresno Family Counseling Center. Two mentors in particular, Rocio Arevalo, Coordinator of the Fresno Family Counseling Center (FFCC), and Jessica Bloom, Rose’s supervisor, also at FFCC, became guiding lights.
“They made space for me to be both a therapist-in-training and a mother,” Rose said. “Sometimes the baby will give me a little kick during a tough session. Like he’s saying, ‘You’ve got this, Mom.'”
Rose is proving that carrying dreams and earning degrees are not mutually exclusive. As she looks ahead to graduating in December 2025, she is grateful for the support she has received from the campus community and channels words of empowerment for her fellow parent scholars.
“I want to remind [parent scholars] that they are allowed to take up space and to listen to their bodies,” she said. “More than anything, I want to encourage parents to advocate for their needs, no matter how big or small.”
To learn about parent scholar services, visit the Student Health and Counseling Center website.
