Dad on a Mission

As a young child, I was always told that becoming a father at a young age was a hassle. It was said that young fatherhood will hold you back and place unwanted stress on you. Especially if you are a college student, fatherhood requires you to give time that you don’t have and give you unwanted experiences at the wrong time.

Well, speaking as a new father and senior college student, having a child is a joy and an inspiration to accomplish all your goals in life. There are certain things that I must go through in order to be a good father at this time, but it’s all worth it seeing my little girl’s smile and watching her grow up with the advantages that I did not have as a youth. There are simple steps I am taking now on my journey in the land of fatherhood.

First is time management. Since I am a college student and my daughter is back home in Southern California, I had to find ways to maneuver my schedule so there is time for everything. I was able to do this by making a vow to myself that I will go home every other weekend to see my family. This way I am able to have time to do my school work, job, and all other duties that come with being a college student. But on the flip side I am able to go home and see my daughter at least 3 weekends out of the month, making my schedule busy but manageable. I also use Skype every night so I can see her as she grows while I am not there. These time management methods are effective in my everyday life.

The main thing many new fathers worry about is finances. Finances are a huge issue in fatherhood and are one that I feared the most. Because of this fear, I went out, got a job and began to save all of my money. Now that my daughter is here I have enough money to satisfy all of her needs. Saving is key when monitoring money for your baby. I understand that it is hard, but you must realize that it is not about you anymore, it is about your child and his/her needs; all your personal wants must be pushed aside for the greater good.

All in all, being a father is an experience that has helped me grow not only as a person but as a student. I feel as if I am on a mission to succeed and my daughter is my motivation. She motivates me to do right in all aspects of life which is why I am appreciative that I have my daughter at this time. I will do anything for her, she is my world and anything I have to do to become a better father I have no problem doing. My advice to other college fathers is to use your child as motivation to stay on the right track because as they get older they will be able to use your actions as motivation just like you did with your parents. If you stay motivated, manage your time and finances, and be there for your child every step of the way, your journey in fatherhood will be an enjoyable one.