Stephanie Farmer wakes up at 5:30 a.m. every morning to the sound of her piercing alarm.
She says that she typically punches the snooze button five times in 30 minutes before she is ready to pull herself out of bed.
Farmer must get up at 5:30 a.m. in order to give her youngest daughter, Elizabeth, 6, her daily morning medicine, which is needed two hours before eating. By 7 a.m. and after several cups of coffee, Farmer says she is ready to tackle the challenge of waking both her daughters to start their day.
After dropping her girls off at elementary school, Farmer drives downtown to attend Sinclair Community College with the hopes that in 2012 she will graduate with two degrees: Liberal Arts and Sciences and Business Information Systems.
Farmer tells of how she enjoys Sinclair and how it is so close to her children’s school, but she wishes that the child care center had a wider range of hours and different designation areas. As a result of her family situations and children’s health, Farmer says she has been attending Sinclair “for what seems like forever.”
“I’ve attended Sinclair since 2000 because I’ve had no support system,” Farmer says.
When she was married she had no support at home and would have to take a year break here and there from school. Farmer says that although she now lives with her parents sometimes support is still lacking because her parents are ready to have their house to themselves.
Farmer says she needs to finish her schooling to find a job with good health insurance because both of her children have disabilities. Her oldest daughter Alexis, 10, has a misshapen heart, which can cause her to get winded while just walking.
Her youngest daughter has a rare disease called Lingual Thyroid, which is caused when the thyroid gland is misplaced. She said Elizabeth also has more than 80 total environmental and food allergies.
“When Liz is sick life literally stops. At times we have to carry her from room to room because she is so weak,” Farmer says.
Farmer also says both children, along with herself, are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, ADHD.
“I am determined to better myself for my kids,” states Farmer, “I don’t know who said it but my motto is; you only have one life so live it.”
With this in mind, Farmer explains that anyone in a similar position wanting to continue their education should first start with one class and add on as they feel comfortable.
One class at a time, living for her children, Stephanie Farmer says she is determined to succeed.