By Mariana Navarette, Contributing Writer
Katie Chamberlain is a non-traditional college student attending Saint Leo University. Though her experiences as both a full-time student and mother seem unfamiliar to the average college student, Chamberlain and her story are inspiring parts of the Saint Leo community.
Chamberlain is majoring in Psychology with a Clinical/Counseling Specialization. She has spent her entire adult life working with and helping, consoling, de-escalating, and counseling individuals during some of their lowest and/or loneliest life experiences.
Now, with three children of different ages, it has been a challenge for Chamberlain to meet their schooling needs.
“My husband works a full-time job… I sometimes feel like I work about 7!” 34-year-old Chamberlain said.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, academic institutions changed their classroom settings to remote learning. This has affected students in a great manner, and Chamberlain and her family are no exception.
“Honestly, it has been TOUGH,” she said.
Chamberlain had to buy two more computers to set up in her house, so each family member could have their own. Sharing hers with everybody was not an option, since all of them had to be in class at the same time.
“I often find myself running in-between rooms and answering questions between classes,” said Chamberlain. “My three-year-old daughter is a world-class ‘Zoom-bomber’ for each of my classes. When her daycare shut down last April, we decided to just keep her home. At that time, she was still just two years old.”
Chamberlain also decided to buy the kids an air hockey table, a pool table, and a huge indoor bounce house to keep them entertained in between their classes since all of their local parks were closed.
“Not only am I juggling my classes and the kid’s classes, but I am also juggling lunchtime, playtime, naptime for the three-year-old, grocery shopping, laundry,” said Chamberlain. “Our days are long, and apparently, kids can get ‘cabin fever’ just like adults, so I take them out on bike rides and walks when able.”
As everybody deserves breaks, Chamberlain does her best by taking her children to the beach, some bike rides, to get ice cream, or something else they choose, so they can breathe a different breeze.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people who are at risk with specific health conditions to take even more precautions, compared to the rest of the populace. For Chamberlain, it was crucial that Saint Leo offered online and hybrid learning since she is part of the “high-risk” population.
“I was diagnosed with cervical and uterine cancer and ended up having to undergo […]a radical hysterectomy in 2020,” she explained. “I did not feel 100% safe with attending classes on campus. Even though I may look ‘normal’ on the outside, I am considered ‘high risk’ and, as a mother, I felt it would be best to stay home.”
Being a non-traditional, full-time student and mother is Chamberlain’s most important and rewarding adventure.
“Thank you, Saint Leo, for making this possible!” she gratefully said.
Before becoming a Lioness and a full-time student, Chamberlain was a Deputy Sheriff back in Arkansas.
“I’ve always been an unconventional person, so why not have an unconventional job, right?” said Chamberlain. “I even got the chance to be Arkansas’ PREA poster model for the Detention Center! How neat!”
Chamberlain was also a Hospice CNA on alternating nights and weekends.
“It was another rewarding career that gave me the opportunity to ‘protect and serve’ my community on a different level,” she said. “I was equally proud of both!”
After moving to Florida three years ago, Chamberlain enrolled in Hillsborough Community College. She earned her Associate Degree with Honors, was a member of Psi Beta Psychology Honors Society, and served as chapter president for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Now, being at home 24/7 is a daily battle. Chamberlain explains that the pandemic has negatively affected both her and her family’s lives.
“It has impacted every single nook and cranny of our existence! Mostly negatively, I believe. My kids can’t see or play with their friends. We now ‘attend’ Mass online and our holidays have been just the five of us, which has been tough on everybody,” she said.
Having three young children of different ages, has been challenging for Chamberlain. She has a hard time explaining and helping them cope with what the “new normal” is, when it is frustrating even for her.
“All three have acted out in some manner, out of frustration for a situation that they don’t understand and one that I, as their mother, can’t fix for them,” said Chamberlain. “As a mother, you are accustomed to being able to ‘fix’ everything for them and, in this situation, we all have to rally together and see it through.”
There have been moments where Chamberlain just wants to press pause on everything until all the pandemic is over, since there are days that it is truly overwhelming for her and her family.
“One day my seven-year-old son was frustrated about ‘everything’ and started crying, which prompted my 14-year-old daughter to start crying over missing her friends and how life isn’t fair. I eventually started crying, too, as everything just hit me like a ton of bricks all at once,” Chamberlain recalled.
As a mother, Chamberlain tries to hold everything together flawlessly, but that was a time when she had to show her children that she felt scared, confused, defeated, and vulnerable, too.
“They needed to see that Mom was human, too,” she said. “The whole world is experiencing the same thing right now—some far worse off. I told them that we all needed to be thankful and appreciative of the things we do have access to, because so many do not.”
People may speak of tenacious Mama Bears, but this Maternal Lioness holds court amidst the pride.
