Solo parenting 101
By Gladys Trasorrus

After a long day of school and work, single parents have yet another task-caring for their children. "It's always fun to come home to my boy, but it's very challenging at times to get my studying done due to the attention he demands from me," junior Dana Quick said.

Now, with the introduction of the Single Parents Club at Oral Roberts University, the job might just be a little bit easier.

Sophomore Aymee Beiter, the club founder, is a single mother of two children, ages 3 and 5. In fall 2001 Beiter made a bold decision to continue her education as a government major at ORU, regardless of the difficulties she knew she'd face as a single parent.

"Right before I came to ORU, God gave me a burning desire to establish a national program to help solo parents acquire their higher education. Once I got to ORU, I realized that it needed to start at the University," Beiter said.

With that seed planted in her heart, the Single Parents Club was birthed. It had its first official meeting Oct. 10 with an attendance of five mothers and their children.

The club has three major goals incorporated in its vision. The first is to write grant proposals and help cover single parents' loans.

"After we graduate, we not only have to worry about paying back loans, we also have a family to support by ourselves," Beiter said.

The next goal of the club is to offer the single parents a support group which acquaints them with other parents in the same situation. The hope is that each will help share the responsibilities of being both a student and a parent.

The club would like to establish a big brother/big sister group. The program would utilize ORU students as role models to the single parents' children.

The third goal is to establish enough funding to enable the University to give scholarships to single parents. The club hopes to work with the University to recruit others like themselves.

As well as being the club president, Beiter stays quite busy with other extracurricular activities. She is now the clubs and organizations director and commuter senator for the Student Association and a member of the Gamma Beta Phi honor society.

ORU is home to many other single parents who have also chosen to overcome the obstacles and challenges being a single parent and student brings.

Trusting in God as the source is necessary "not only for the energy and the wisdom to deal with our children, but also for the finances that seem almost impossible to obtain for us single parents," Beiter said.

"Finally, after a whole year of researching and trying to establish the club, there are 10 members, and I hope that those who are unaware of this club will become a part of us so they can be blessed from the benefit they will receive," Beiter said.

If you're a solo parent or would like to be a part of the big brother/big sister program, call 918-481-6334 for more information.

Finals Schedule