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Student Leader, Young Mother Rises Above Challenges

Posted on: Monday, 27 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By Erica Blake, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

Mar. 27--Three years ago, life seemed pretty scary for Brooke Affholder.

Barely into her first years at a community college in Florida, she was single and pregnant and unsure of what to do. There were options, she knew, all of which presented challenges and possible failures.

But that seems a lifetime ago for the Owens Community College senior, who is now just months away from earning her associate's degree as a registered nurse.

The single mother of a shy 3-year-old, Ms. Affholder, 23, is president of the Owens student body and member of the academic honor roll who has lobbied both the Owens Board of Trustees as well as state legislators on issues important to college stu-dents. They are all accomplishments she credits to a strong will, belief in herself, as well as a little help from her friends.

"I had to prove myself to my family, to my teachers, and to myself," she said. "That's where my strength comes in."

Ms. Affholder's days are busy ones. In addition to a full schedule of classes, she is in the midst of her clinicals, which require her to spend full days at area hospitals. Once a week, she meets with other student government representatives from the school's Oregon and Findlay campuses, and she often is attending community events on behalf of her school.

For her, the role of student body president is not just a resume builder. She has inspired involvement from more students, including bringing out hundreds more students to vote.

But she is most proud of the work she has accomplished, including creating a $1 menu at the school's dining hall and lobbying the Board of Trustees to promise dedicating a small percentage of any future tuition increases toward student organizations and activities.

"She's able to balance being a single mom with being in a difficult major, and on top of that, she is involved in student government," said Bill Ivoska, vice president of student services for Owens Community College. "Not only is she president of the student body, but she is remarkably changing life for students on this campus."

Ms. Affholder's success at Owens began before she even registered. While pregnant, and after moving from Florida to live near her mother in the Toledo area, she learned of Mom's House Toledo, a program that offers child care and support in exchange for the young mother's commitment to finish school.

She put her name on the waiting list and was accepted by the time Aleyda, her daughter, was born.

Stephanie Koehler, executive director of Mom's House Toledo, said the program is always at capacity, which is 30 children. Ms. Affholder is one of the current 23 moms who is able to drop her daughter off so she can pursue her education.

"There's nothing worse than untapped potential," Ms. Koehler said. "She has potential that could have gone untapped, but the choices she made changed that."

Her favorite part of the day is picking up her daughter at Mom's House and heading home to her Sylvania apartment that she shares with her sister. There, she's able to just be mom.

"I really want her to have opportunities and to see what's out there," she said, after showing off her charm bracelet that is filled with smiling pictures of Aleyda. "I want to be an example to her that no matter what you've gone through, you can rise to the top."

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

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Source: The Blade

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