Whether it be at 5 a.m. before even the early bird rises, or during the rustling class hours on campus, full-time student Raegan Park is not in charge of her schedule the way most other college students are. The reason: Park’s three-month-old son.
“He is my biggest motivation to continue and get done [with school],” Park said. “Knowing that I can provide a better future is a big motivator.”
Set to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in December 2026, Park’s goal is to continue her studies in fall 2026 to earn her master’s degree, pursue a career in social work and be a present parent.
“It sucks having to continue to go [to school] while he’s so young, and it’s scary to have to miss stuff possibly, like if he says his first word or if he starts crawling,” Park said.
Through this change, Park said her support systems have been important in helping her through her journey, including Drake staff.
As Park navigates being a new parent, she said she’s especially grateful to her employers and professors for their flexibility.
“I’ve been very lucky that my professors work with me very well,” Park said. “I am able to spend a lot of time with him — much more than I thought I was going to be able to.”
Associate Professor of Spanish Inbal Mazar, who holds a doctorate in comparative studies, has taught Park across several semesters. In that time, she has had a front-row seat to Park’s evolution as a student and a mother.
“[Park] is an extremely bright, dedicated and wonderful person and student,” Mazar said. “It was very easy to be supportive academically in addition to professionally and personally.”
Drawing on her expertise in comparative studies, Mazar said continued education for parents like Park would be far more difficult without a dedicated support system of educators.
“I was a student mother for my Ph.D., and I had a lot of support from professors and mentors,” Mazar said. “It’s natural for me to be supportive to all students, but certainly to students who experience something that should be seen as beautiful and not something that hinders their ability to be successful.”
When Park’s childcare fell through, she asked Mazar about the possibility of remote learning. Not wanting her to miss out, Mazar welcomed Park’s son into her classroom while resolving the situation.
“I’m confident that Drake is a place that is open to support students through all their different needs, and that includes parents,” Mazar said. “It is our duty and privilege as professors to ensure that students have the best learning experience they can have on campus, regardless of challenges they might face.”
Off of Drake campus in Merle Hay Mall, lies Drake Head Start, a Des Moines location of the needs-based program that provides free-of-cost childcare. The Head Start program is available to student parents and community members on an as-needed basis.
Lisa Proctor, director of Drake Head Start, said the program provides communities with child care opportunities that may not otherwise be available.
As a Drake alumna, Proctor said the University’s culture of care for all community members is held at Head Start, too. Park said she wasn’t aware of Head Start’s services, which is the case for many other parents like her, according to Proctor.
“Our program is like a best-kept secret that not everyone is fully aware of,” Proctor said. “I think general awareness of our program and the impact that our program has and can have on those needing childcare.”
Proctor said student parents would largely benefit from the childcare provided by the Drake program when navigating the schedule of a college student.
“Having a Head Start program fits into Drake’s larger mission of being able to connect and service the entire community through education and engagement,” Proctor said.
