Balancing School and Motherhood

Having children is a rewarding experience, but some parents have goals outside of the home. Meet Malak, who recently finished her coursework at CSI. Find out how she was able to invest time in herself while raising a family.

Being a mother has been a big part of Malak Awamleh’s life. She came to the US from Jordan on an F-2 spouse visa when her husband was a student. While he was in school, she was focused on raising their children. But after he finished his studies, she decided she wanted to do something for herself.

“I enjoy exploring new places, meeting new people, and learning new skills,” says Malak. Deciding to pursue an education through Computer Systems Institute seemed like the next logical step in her life. She knew it would be a challenge to balance being a mom and a student, but she was determined to make it happen. 

Before she could enroll in school, Malak had work to do to start the process, “I was already here in the US and had to change my status. The process took about 3 or 4 months, but it was worth it. It was not that complicated. I was able to change my visa to F-1 so I could start to study.”

Improving English Skills

After she got the legal requirements out of the way, her next step was to be sure that her English was good enough so that she could succeed as a student. Rather than enrolling in a career program right away, she started out with ESL courses at CSI. She was able to work on her vocabulary, writing, grammar, reading, and critical thinking. 

CSI’s ESL programs are immersive and interactive in order to help students. They offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels as well as a specialized program in either academics (Massachusetts) or communication (Illinois). The programs aim to prepare students for career focused programs as well ensure that they can apply their skills outside of the classroom. 

Malak says that if English is not your first language, getting more comfortable with it is a good idea before enrolling in career programs, “My advice is to start with some English courses. It really helped me improve my speaking and writing,” she says. “After that, you can change your program. When you can prove your English is good enough you can work on a program for your career.”

Supporting Parents who are Students

Once Malak was more confident with her English skills, she enrolled in the Business Career Program at the Charlestown, Massachusetts campus. This is where she was a part of the Marketing Concentration. In the program, she learned about branding, operations, content development, social media, and creating sales and marketing campaigns. 

Malak finished her coursework in December of 2024 and says that even though it was rewarding, it wasn’t easy, “Every journey has challenges, but with the support of CSI, I’ve been able to overcome them. Whether it was adjusting to a new academic system or managing coursework, the school always provided the resources I needed to succeed.”

Malak had extra challenges because she is a wife and mother with responsibilities at home. She has a 15 year old son and a two year old daughter who was a newborn when she started, “It was hard for me, especially because I had the baby,” she says. Thankfully she got a lot of help with the infant, “It was fine because my husband would stay with her when I went to school.” 

As a student, Malak appreciated the opportunity to do something that enriched her life beyond being a parent, “It was so good for me. It was a chance to go out, change my routine, and do something for myself because I spent so much time staying with my kids at home.” Although she loves her children, she was grateful for the personal growth she was able to achieve, “I like that I had a chance to do something else outside the home.” 

As a busy mom, wife, and student, Malak had to find balance in her life, “Time management was key for me,” she says. “I made sure to stay organized, set priorities, and create a schedule that allowed me to focus on both my studies and personal life.”

Valuable Experience

Now that her classes are out of the way, Malak was just approved for Optional Practical Training or OPT. This program provides real world career training that will help her gain experience as a marketing professional. She feels like her classes did a good job preparing her for the next step in her journey, “I hope to gain valuable work experience in my field and apply what I’ve learned. My goal is to grow professionally and take the next steps in my career,” she says.

Malak says that even with the challenges she faced, she would do it all over again, “The staff and faculty are so helpful and supportive. They genuinely care about students’ success, and the learning environment is amazing.”

She thinks that anyone looking for personal and career growth should consider CSI, ”I highly recommend it! CSI is a great place to study, with amazing teachers and a very supportive staff. If you’re looking for a positive and welcoming environment to grow academically and professionally, CSI is a great choice!”

Don’t let being a busy parent hold you back from other goals in your life! Contact CSI today to learn about the programs that can help you achieve your dream of having a career.