A clear goal
Basia not only returned to university after the birth of her daughter, but also found a way to balance being a new mother with pursuing her plans and professional aspirations. In a conversation with Justyna Rojewska, a student of Journalism, Media and Communication Design, she talks, among other things, about her first days at the university with a baby in a pram, why she did not give up her master’s degree despite difficult moments, and how lecturers and fellow students reacted to the presence of little Maja – probably the youngest attendee at the Faculty of Philology.
I had always thought that I wanted to complete these studies, I wanted to study, and I set myself the goal of simply finishing them! When Maja came along, I decided that I would do it all the more, above all because I would be a mother and I wanted to become a speech therapist – explains Basia.
— explains Basia.
The greatest crisis came even before classes had begun – her childcare provider withdrew just one day before the start of the academic year, Basia began to question whether continuing her studies made sense at all. Ultimately, she made a decision that required great courage – she simply came to class with her daughter. In this new and unexpected situation, she felt considerable stress and feared that her child might not be accepted at the university. To her positive surprise, both her fellow students and lecturers showed great support, engaging little Maja in class and giving her mother a sense of security.
Studies and motherhood can support each other
Basia also speaks about something that is still not discussed often enough – that motherhood does not have to mean putting educational or professional development on hold. While social narratives often present it as a “choice” between having a child and pursuing a career, her experience shows that reality can be far more complex.
During one class, a professor conducted a speech therapy examination on Maja, checking the length of her lingual frenulum. It turned out to be slightly shortened, and everyone who was with us that day could sit around us. I held Maja on my lap while the professor carried out the examination – it was something completely new. Normally, you wouldn’t have such an opportunity during classes, with a child physically present and being examined. It was something truly amazing!
— recalls the student.
In her case, studies and everyday motherhood began to intertwine. The knowledge and experience gained during classes – particularly in Speech Therapy – translate into more conscious parenting. At the same time, Maja’s presence at the university gave the academic space an entirely new dimension: more practical, more dynamic and rooted in real-life situations that rarely appear in standard teaching examples.
At the same time, Basia emphasises that it has not always been easy. Combining these roles required constant balancing – between fatigue and responsibilities, between the need to concentrate and the necessity of responding to immediate situations. However, this experience fosters flexibility and redefines the concept of “ideal studying”, showing that it does not have to follow one universal model.
“Studying is something just for me”
Basia also highlights a very important and often overlooked aspect of combining motherhood and education: the need to have one’s own personal space. For her, university studies are not merely another obligation or a stage in a career, but something deeply personal – a moment that belongs entirely to her.
In a world where caring for a child often defines everyday life completely, the possibility of going to university, attending classes and developing one’s own interests becomes something more than education. It is a way of regaining a sense of agency, building an identity independent of – yet coexisting with – the role of a mother. This perspective may be particularly important for other young mothers who fear that parenthood will close off their path to development. Basia’s story shows that these two roles can complement each other, although they require courage, support and a high level of self-awareness.
Support for students and young mothers at the University of Lodz
The University of Lodz, including the Faculty of Philology, offers various forms of support for students who need to combine their studies with parenthood. Students may benefit, among other things, from an individual study organisation, dean’s leave related to life circumstances, as well as support from dean’s offices and year tutors in adjusting the course of study to current needs.
Support is also available at the University of Lodz Support and Accessibility Centre, which assists members of the academic community and helps identify solutions that facilitate the study process for young parents. Returning to a university after a break related to parenthood does not have to mean giving up education – it can instead become a new, more conscious stage of it.
