Profile of the month: Student juggles motherhood, school, work

Mother of four juggles school, work and parenting, all while maintaining a 4.0.

Meet Jessica Lang, 30, who enrolled at MHCC in summer 2011 after spending 10 years as a stay-at-home mom.

“I think it’s really important to go back to school if you can,” Lang said. “And it’s tough. It’s really hard for me to go back and it’s hard on a regular basis to balance our schedule… We all work together,” she said of her family.

Lang was nominated by MHCC mathematics instructor Robert Hauss for her “unwavering work ethic and her insistence on perfection.

“Jessica has balanced the job of motherhood with the job of being a student beautifully,” he said. “In both of the classes she has had with me she has gone out of her way to reach out and make sure she understands the material thoroughly.”

Lang said this dedication carries through in all of her schooling.

“I just want to do the best that I can and show my kids that it’s important not just to do something because you’re doing it, but to do it well. And understand what you can… so you are prepared,” she said.

She is working toward a transfer degree in business and plans to transfer to the Eastern Oregon University branch on the MHCC campus after she graduates from Mt. Hood in June.

“I like numbers; I like math. I’m good with numbers,” said Lang, who would like to work in the finance area on behalf of schools or cities. “I want to do something that will help out somewhere.”

When she returned to school the dynamic of her family changed, and her husband of 12 years has played a large role in making it all come together, she said.

“We’ve had to adapt a lot along the way. He has taken on a lot of the responsibilities. He’s really, really supportive.

“It’s challenging. I sleep a lot less now,” she said. “I stay up really late and work on homework. I’m really dedicated to my end goal. I just think about graduating and the different career opportunities that will be available.”

Distance learning classes have become a key resource for Lang. She now works as a secretary at her children’s school, so online classes allow her to be home and help with their homework during evenings.

She said her children see the work that goes into college courses and said, “It’s showing them that they need to go to college.”

When not working or studying, Lang and her husband enjoy riding motorcycles together. She is also the leader for her three daughters’ Girl Scout troop.

Her family strategy is to “plan everything out and make sure we still go and do activities on the off-days,” she said.

“Even though it’s tough and it’s busy, it’s definitely worth it.”