Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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fi' ,.v..,,,,h f ' ga.. Jessica Reyes, graduate studeht ih literature, plays oh the swing set ih the park with daughter Beiia. Theres that cheesy part of me that wants to say everything I do is for Bella, and in a lot of ways it's true. As a kid I doh't think I realized that about my parents. Reyes said, Erin Poppe 11

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S N I I vvlldcats t.t1s'fCUb5 Iessica Reyes, 29, and Stephanie Bowles, 22, contrasted each other in many ways. Reyes was a graduate student in literature and Bowles was a senior in life sciences. One thing they shared was the knowledge of having a daughter in college. Reyes had Bella in the fall before returning to school after a break. Stephanie had Chrissy in the winter of her junior year before taking a break. I did not go back to school immediately Reyes said. Having a newborn is rough, regardless of your situation. I did not want to overload myself, so it took a while for me to go back to being a full-time student. Education was a key factor for Reyes, even prior to Bella's entrance. However for Bowles, it was Chrissy who inspired choosing studying over partying. School was on the back burner for me, Bowles said. 'After she was born, I wanted to better my life in order to give her everything she deserved. I'm thankful I had her. However, for Bowles, not everyone was as initially thankful for her daughter as she was. She talked about how it was tough for her family to accept due to their Catholic beliefs. What can you do? Bowlessaid. You can't erase being pregnant, or at least I couIdn't. If they wanted to be a part of her life, they were going to have to come around eventually. But it was rough. It was also rough for both Bowles and Reyes to find a balance between school and their daughters initially. Bowles said she was fortunate enough to be able to work out the ideal schedule with her boyfriend so that someone was always home with Chrissy. However Reyes mentioned about how she had to play the role of 'student with a crying baby' once after Bella was born. You try to avoid those circumstances like the plague, said Reyes. When they are younger children are so unpredictable, it got really awkward. But at the same, Reyes said that the university, staff and fellow students, were very gracious about her and Bella. The professors I had in the English department understood that I was in a different situation and were willing to work with me on that, Reyes said. But I never wanted to use the 'I'm a mom' card to my advantage. I never wanted to use it, or Bella, as an excuse. Neither did Bowles, and she shared Reyes' thought of how accepting the members ofthe university could be. Bowles spent time on campus while carrying Chrissy so she saw a side Reyes didn't. I was actually surprised at the amount of people that wanted to rub my belly people I didn't even know, Bowles said. They told me I was a cute pregnant Iady. But she had to take the good moments with the bad when it came to the interactions. Of course I got looks from some people, looks that judged me, she said. But I had a good support system, so I could ignore it. Both Bowles and Reyes said a their support systems helped them through the tougher moments, that their friends and family were not only there for them, but for their daughters as well. K-State was full of understanding people, Reyes said. The people I have met here have become family to my husband, my daughter and I. I am very fortunate to go to a university where everyone is family. Stephanie Bowles, senior in life sciences, holds daughter Chrissy at the park on Feb. 5. Chrissy is my s world, and I love at .g her so much. I gi would do anything 1 iv A for her andlhope f V I I lcan give her an Mit . 1, ,, . amazinglifef' , M 'af ' Bowles said. Erin Poppe d f A. I 4' p

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