College of Saint Mary MLL program made college possible for this young mother

Sydnee Myers’ son just turned five, and if you ask him to point to his home, he will lift his tiny finger towards a building on CSM’s campus. And he is right. The College of Saint Mary campus has been his home for nearly all of his life, and although a college campus isn’t usually thought of as the typical place for kids to call home, at CSM it has become just that, and more.

“He thinks the big building is his home; the whole thing is his home,” said Myers, referencing Madonna Hall. “He will graduate pre-school the same time I graduate from college, so it’s pretty cool.”

Myers and her son live on campus as part of CSM’s Mother’s Living and Learning (MLL) program – an initiative that has gained national recognition as one of the most progressive college programs for single mothers in the nation. Part of what is a unique program for not only Nebraska colleges but institutions nationwide, mothers at CSM are able to live with their children at the on-campus Madonna Hall, which is a $10 million residence hall equipped with suite-style rooms.

For Myers, the MLL program has provided a place to live and a supportive environment for her and her child, but it has also been a place that spawned personal growth beyond what she had ever imagined. In fact, when she initially became pregnant right out of high school, she says she didn’t plan on going to college at all. Upon hearing about the Mother’s Living and Learning program, she decided to give CSM a try. She says the decision has changed her life dramatically.

“I’m doing a lot more than I thought I’d ever do,” Myers said. “I feel like I’ve grown a ton since I’ve been here. I used to be super shy, and now I’m involved in several groups on campus.”

Not only is she involved on campus, she has learned to lead. In addition to being on the Resident Hall Council and a peer mentor for all incoming students entering MLL, she has been president of Many Opportunities for Mothering Solo (M.O.M.S.) – a student-led program that puts on special events to promote engagement, raise money, and support moms.

While MLL has helped her grow and become empowered, it has been CSM’s career-focused coursework and internships that have opened doors to career success. After working as senior business intern in the Mutual of Omaha Human Resources – Diversity and Inclusion Department, she will graduate with a degree in business analytics, and move on to a full-time position after graduation this May.

“The business analytics program is amazing. They require three semesters of internship – that’s almost two years of real world experience before graduating,” Myers said. “That’s so valuable today. It really just sets you up for success.”

As students like Sydnee Myers become empowered leaders, community advocates, and lifelong learners, their children are also growing up within the same supportive environment. For Myers and many others on campus, the simple opportunity to experience this community has sparked life-changing results. And, even long after graduation, children and mothers of CSM’s Mother’s Living and Learning program can confidently raise a finger to the “big building” on campus and say “home.”