The College of Media & Communication is no stranger to diverse student bodies and unique backgrounds. Nonetheless, some students bring with them a story too rare and wholesome to go unnoticed.
Logan Munoz, an undeclared sophomore from Lubbock, Texas, started his college career roughly a year ago. Then along came Mindy Munoz, a Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management student from Andrews, Texas—and Logan's mother.
As playful as it sounds, no agents of chance or luck set the Munoz family as student peers.
When Logan was a freshman, the independent and fast-paced lifestyle required of a college student caught him off guard. Although he kept his responsibilities in good shape, doubts formed about the future. Like most new students, he wondered if a university was the right place to see his goals brought to fruition.
“It was just a big change in a short amount of time,” said Logan. “Going from being at home every day with a few responsibilities, to being alone with a lot of responsibilities—it was just a lot.”
Of course, he expressed these concerns to his mom, who he missed while being gone from home for the first time.
“I kept pushing him to stick it out,” said Mindy. “I wanted him to have this degree because, like I told him, it's something no one can ever take away from you.”
Despite the tough introduction, Logan returned for his sophomore year.
Meanwhile, Mindy reached her own conclusion. Conflicting circumstances in her past
prevented her from finishing a college degree, but a new chance seemed to be presenting
itself.
“I kept thinking, ‘I'm pushing my kid to do something I've never done, to get something I don't have,'” said Mindy. “I told myself I'm going back to school.”
Mindy felt her natural gravitation to volunteer work made her a suitable candidate for the College of Media & Communication—specifically, Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management. After her acceptance to the program, Mindy was in an advising appointment when she saw an infographic on the wall which highlighted various careers available to CoMC graduates.
With her son Logan still undecided in his major, she sent him a picture of the infographic. Logan, a member of the Goin' Band drumline, took interest in the idea of working in marketing for record labels one day. However, as an undeclared student, his options for CoMC classes were limited. Of the sections available, his mom just so happened to need the same class as she began her college career.
“I get to be the mom still,” Mindy said. “I can see when he doesn't do discussion posts, so I'll tell him about it.”
Mindy says these things in a teasing manner, but she knows her maternal instincts are still very much alive even as a classmate to her son.
“It can be hard for me sometimes,” she said. “Just because we're doing these things together, it doesn't mean I can control what he does. But it's cool to watch him interact with the other students and figure these things out, because your kids are always going to be your babies.”
As for Logan, his thoughts on the matter remain understandingly simplistic: “It can be cool or annoying.”
Although they sometimes discuss the occasional assignment or test question, the mother-son duo mostly keeps their eyes on their own work. Mindy, although always concerned about Logan's success and well-being, knows she cannot follow him as if he were still a kid. And Logan has no complaints about that.
“But it's nice when I need help,” said Logan.