Catherine Monsalvo, a senior majoring in social work, said she’s seen firsthand as a single parent, raising her daughter, Lilly, 8, and getting her education.

She and her daughter lived in rented rooms and have moved multiple times. They have been living in an apartment for the last couple of years, she said.

She attends West Chester’s Philadelphia location which was more conveniently located to her work and offered night classes. This past semester, she took one class and served her internship at South Philadelphia High School, where she assisted teen parents. The internship is not paid, so she had to reduce her job as a personal care assistant to two days a week.

She is grateful for the support from her professors, who encouraged her to bring Lilly to class when she had a child care problem. “That helped me out a lot as a mom,” said Monsalvo, who belongs to “Super Moms of WCU,” a group of West Chester student moms.

Learn more about Catherine's story in this article featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer!

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