While many who attend SF State are familiar with the struggles of juggling school and work, one group of students have yet another area in need of their time and attention: their children.

Combining school, work and family is an issue too familiar for Christina Salvatorelli, a 33-year-old liberal studies student who plans to become a dental hygienist.

Salvatorelli has been a full- or part-time college student, while raising her three children, 10-year-old Gianna Isabella, 9-year-old Natalia Maria and 1-year-old Cristina. She has also worked full- or part-time. With help from husband Randy, and her family, she has juggled these three aspects of her life.

Sometimes the areas conflict, and Salvatorelli carries bags of diapers, baby food, wipes, gruel, and a feeding bottle, along with Cristina and a cup of coffee, to school. While sitting in her Contemporary Literature of La Raza class, she feeds her daughter baby food with one hand, while never letting go of the literature book in the other.

Tahnee Camacho, a student in Salvatorelli's La Raza class, said she doesn't see any problems with students bringing children to class, as long as they make sure it's not a distraction for others, which Salvatorelli made sure of, Camacho said.

"If the baby started crying she stepped out," Camacho said.

Salvatorelli's professor, Alejandro Murguia, said he doesn't see a problem with students bringing their children to class, since he believes they do it only when they need to.

"I don't have any problem with students bringing their children to class,” Murguia said. “I have a problem with students dropping out of class."

This semester, Salvatorelli's schedule is lighter since she is taking only one class while looking for a new job, but being a parent is a full-time job by itself. She and her husband share the responsibilities, but she puts more pressure on herself, she said.

"I feel really bad, because I can't do everything,” Salvatorelli said. “It's very difficult for me to relax."
This was one reason Salvatorelli has worked full-time while also attending college full-time during periods of her life, she said. During these periods, she spent her days at school and her afternoons and evenings at her job at Nordstrom.

Salvatorelli said she tried to make sure no one was neglected, and when she came home from work, she and her husband spent time with the children and each other.

"We tried to make a little bit of time where we at least watched a movie with the girls before they went to bed, or maybe played a game with them,” Salvatorelli said. “Every evening we tried to do something."

Often, she added, she ended up doing homework late at night and sleeping three to four hours a night.

Six weeks before Cristina was born, Salvatorelli took maternity leave, but right after giving birth she went back to SF State, bringing Cristina to class during the first few weeks.

"It was a Wednesday when I had her; I must have gone back that Friday." Salvatorelli said. "I could never just sit around. I can't - even though you're not really sitting around. I go nuts."

Salvatorelli also planned to return to her full-time job at Nordstrom after her maternity leave.

According to Salvatorelli, she left for maternity leave six weeks before Cristina was born. When she wanted to return, her employer didn't give back the same hours that she left with, as required by law, but only part-time hours on an irregular schedule.

Her work hours decreased until October, when she suddenly found out she had been terminated from the job she had worked for 14 years.

"I never received a written notice. The only reason I found out is because I tried to use my discount at the [Nordstrom] Rack and it said I was no longer an employee," Salvatorelli said, who filed a complaint with the state which is currently under review.

Randy Salvatorelli said it was a hard experience for the family, and one reason Christina decided to go back to school so soon after giving birth.

"She always wanted to pursue education and it was part of her agenda, but after what happened with Nordstrom, she was searching for new avenues for her self-worth," he said, adding that the event made Salvatorelli "very depressed."

Although working, studying and having a family at the same time can cause a lot of stress, Salvatorelli said that it is also a priceless experience.

"Nothing compares to having your children and your family, because they’re never gonna leave you," Salvatorelli said. "I enjoy all the moments I have with them."

Today, Salvatorelli leaves her daughter with family members, but brings Cristina to class when something comes up. She is still looking for a day care center, since most have waiting lists several years long.

SF State offers full-time daycare through the licensed Early Education Childhood Center for children six months to five years of age. The program uses sliding scale rates determined by the family's income, but has a long waiting list due to its popularity.

SF State’s Stay in School Family Resource Center provides support for SF State student-parents. It includes a computer lab and a "baby-friendly room" where parents can leave their children while using the computers. The center also offers peer counseling and workshops on topics such as child rearing.
Frederick Gaines, the Program Coordinator, said there are many stereotypes of student-parents, including that they are less ambitious.

"If anything, they're actually the opposite of that,” Gaines said. “They're the most motivated people that I've met.

“They have an increased motivation to be here, because they have so many obstacles."