By Nelson Davilla
Student parents are coming back to school and giving education a second chance.
Many of the student parents have been out of school for years, however, help is out there through a club specifically for student parents. If any student parent is interested in getting tutoring for math or is interested in being a tutor, they could join MnM’s short for Math ‘N’ Mom’s, a support group for students founded by Lily Tovar and Griselda Bañuelos.
Some student parents even find it difficult to separates their even and odd numbers. It is a constant struggle. However, that is the whole reason Math ‘N’ Mom’s was established.
The group began helping out by having bake sales, selling homemade food like tamales, nachos, beans and champurrado to raise money for school supplies. The group is currently accepting book donations. “You make friends here and it becomes fun you don’t need to be a genius to understand math, but at least put your best effort forward,” Tovar said.
Tovar also said, “MnM’s brings an awareness to our campus about the challenges that our student parents face.” He added that it serves as a support network so that each member can encourage and motivate one another to persevere in their education.
With budget cuts affecting the campus, many tutors are gone now and the cuts critically affect students. MnM’s helps out in subjects like math, chemistry and physics. Tovar hopes for East Los Angeles College to start supporting student parents on a more personal level. Government based programs, like Cal works and Care Government that regulate the progress of student parents.
Math ‘N’ Moms motto is “I am a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down,” from Abraham Lincoln. The Math N’ Mom’s club meets every other Thursday at 12:30 pm B2-111.
