Ram parents get support with new club on campus

School is hard enough, but for many students at Winston-Salem State University, school is only part of the equation. Many women and men on campus are juggling a full time school schedule with the responsibilities of taking care of a family as well. Ayanna Ross, 22, is an example. Ross is a junior and a Special Education major who is taking 18 hours this semester, but that’s not all. Ross’s son, Zamar was born in June 2003, and since then life got a little harder for her and her boyfriend Erin Wood, who is also a WSSU student. The couple lives in Concord, N.C., and Ross commutes to school every Monday morning, not to return until Wednesday night after class. She is forced to leave Zamar, now 9 months, at home. “It makes me feel bad sometimes,” Ross said, “I feel like I should be there with him.” She goes on to say that she knows she is doing the right thing in continuing her education so that she can ensure a better life for her son. On Fridays, Ross must make the hour long drive to attend one 50-minute class. She says life has really changed for her since Zamar was born. She doesn’t have as much time to do things with her friends as she used to and sometimes her friends want to do things that wouldn’t be appropriate for a 9 month old, so Ross often declines invitations so that she can spend more time with her son. However, she says her grades have improved since Zamar was born. “I realized there’s no more playing around,” she said, “I’ve got to get done.” Recently, Wood and Ross have found a group of people who understand their daily challenges. A new club, called Rams With Lambs, was founded with college parents in mind. Rams With Lambs was founded as a result of Lorenzo Meachum’s brainstorm last fall. Meachum said that he saw more and more new parents on campus each year, and he wanted to do something to help them make the difficult transition from student to parent. Rams With Lambs was founded as a result of his concern for the students who were taking on this great responsibility. The hope of Rams With Lambs is that it will help parents to balance their busy lives more effectively, so they will not become discouraged and leave school behind altogether. Just as importantly, Rams With Lambs aims to provide fellowship and support, adding resources and fun along the way. The club has lots of big ideas for its members. Plans are in the works to establish a baby-sitting co-op, a clothing and baby item exchange, and, someday, an online chat room and website. The meetings are designed with children and parents in mind, with refreshments and activities for the children, and flexible meeting times for the parents. The number of parents on the roster is growing, and now Rams With Lambs is open to prospective students who will be attending WSSU in the upcoming Fall semester. The group is comprised of men and women on campus who have a vested interest in getting the most out of their college experiences without compromising the time and energy it takes to raise a happy child. Rams Wth Lambs hosted its first cookout at Triad Park, where there were hotdogs and hamburgers for everyone and plenty of room for the children to play together. Rams With Lambs wants to give its members a chance to facilitate changes on the campus of Winston-Salem State University that will hopefully make their educational journeys a little easier, and a lot more pleasant. Though things are just getting started, Ross said she’s excited about the club. “I hope to have a group of people I can identify with,” Ross said. Ross hopes enrollment in the club will increase as people find out about it, and she said that anyone who is interested in joining can contact her at mailto:rams withlambs@yahoo.com. There is still time to get involved this semester, and lots more going on within the club before the summer. Enrollment in the club is still open, and there are no dues. Everyone who signs up for the club will be added to a roster. Members receive e-mails regularly, which keep them on top of what is going on in the club, even if they have to miss a meeting. Ross and Wood have found a way they can socialize and make new friends without compromising their quality time with Zamar. What more could any parent want?