UACCB Student Manages Time Between Jobs, Babysitting and School

By Julie M. Fidler

BATESVILLE -- Although she works two part-time jobs, more than 40 hours a week, helps care for 11 cousins and takes on a full course load, one University of Arkansas Community College student doesn’t think she’s doing anything special. Linh Tran of Batesville is a first-semester freshman who seems to know a thing or two about time management.

Tran graduated from Batesville High School this spring, but she already had some credits at UACCB through advanced placement pre-med classes. Her junior year, she attended school while working three part-time jobs.

The North Carolina native grew up in Batesville. Her parents moved to Arkansas when she was a toddler to be near her mother’s family. Her parents, both originally from Vietnam, met in North Carolina and married there.

Tran, who is taking a 13-hour course load this semester, has her work cut out for her in the evenings. She waitresses at Tai Lee restaurant, owned by her aunt, and helps out at another aunt’s nail salon, Nails Spa. There, she sets appointments, helps clients and cleans up after manicurists. From there, it’s on to her grandmother’s house where she feeds and takes care of some of her younger cousins and helps others with schoolwork.

“I come in like the enforcer,” she says about her approach toward her cousins. “I’m the oldest of my cousins and I have 11 of them, ages 3-16. I’m the one that says, ‘Do your homework.’”

When does she fit in time for her own studying and homework? “Very late at night,” she said.

Currently, Tran’s classes are mostly in general education, but she said she would like to get an associate of science degree in science and major in biology.

After graduation she plans to take advantage of  a UACCB transfer scholarship and go on to either Lyon College or Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. “I want to work toward a bachelor’s in biology right now,” she said. “I’m contemplating about pre-dental and want to stick to biology. I want to be a dentist, so I might try that, and if I want to go further, I might be an orthodontist.”

Tran said she’s enjoying going to school at UACCB. “It’s nice because it’s community-based,” she said. “It’s more relaxed here. It’s great because most of the people look familiar here, so either you know them or kind of know them.”

She said she would recommend the college to those considering attending. “If you had a good base at high school, they understand that it’s been awhile since you’ve had some material,  so they take it easy with you. If you need to talk to them, they’re always there in their offices or after class.”

“The staff here is really helpful too,” said Tran. “The ladies in the business office, enrollment and financial aid  -- I think I’ve asked them maybe a hundred questions since I’ve been here. They’re really understanding and patient about even answering the same questions over and over again.”

Tran was active in Key Club in high school and has joined the college version of the organization, Circle K International.

CUTLINE INFO

University of Arkansas Community College first semester student Linh Tran takes a moment to look at her schedule book between classes.