(Live Action News) A student from Lander University in South Carolina is sharing the heartwarming story of how her professor not only accepted that her newborn baby would be present during class, but insisted on it, even holding the baby so the new mom could take notes.
Oregon Right to Life shared the story of Sarah Thompson on their Instagram page with a photo of Dr. Josie Ryan holding Thompson’s son Isaiah.
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“She knows I worked and continued school at USC while pregnant this past semester,” Thompson wrote of Ryan. “I started her class the week before I had my son in August and started attending her class again the week after I had him. She knew I’d be overwhelmed so literally begged me to bring Isaiah to class and even showed me where the breastfeeding room in the health center was at Lander University.”
From the Oregon Right to Life Instagram post:
“This is my Math professor Dr. Josie Ryan with my son; she’s amazing. She knows I worked and continued school at USC while pregnant this past semester. I started her class the week before I had my son in August and started attending her class again the week after I had him. She knew I’d be overwhelmed so literally begged me to bring Isaiah to class and even showed me where the breastfeeding room in the health center was at Lander University. It’s so reassuring to know there are professors out there like this. Not only is she an amazing person, she’s also one of the best math professors I’ve ever had. She’s brilliant really, wacky and the best kind of nerdy.. the kind I can relate to lol. But hey! Maybe the world needs more of these teachers! Hopefully this post will encourage other educators or moms or pregnant/working women who are students to ask for help. She’s encouraged me constantly and I’ve brought him to our Real Analysis class multiple times now. He’ll cut the cheese and make the class giggle from time to time but we still get down to some serious math in there. I am in a perfect world when I am learning math in college with my baby right next to me or in my teachers arms. She taught like this; holding him the whole first class I brought him to.” Credit: Sarah Thompson
Thompson praised Ryan, saying it is “reassuring” to know there are professors out there who would do such a generous and compassionate act. She also called Ryan “one of the best math professors” she has ever had and an overall “amazing person” who is “brilliant” and “wacky.” She added that the world “needs more of these teachers!”
Ryan has encouraged Thompson in her studies and Thompson has now brought Isaiah to class several times. She says the other students seem to enjoy having him there and he isn’t much of a distraction. Thompson hopes that by sharing the touching photo and story, other women who are in school or working will be inspired to ask for help because there is always someone who is willing to take that extra step.
Tweet This: Ryan has encouraged Thompson in her studies and Thompson has now brought (baby) Isaiah to class several times.
“I am in a perfect world when I am learning math in college with my baby right next to me or in my teachers arms,” said Thompson. “She taught like this; holding him the whole first class I brought him to.”
Abortion advocates will say that it is the best choice for pregnant students to abort their babies so that they can focus on their studies and earn their degrees. However, professors like Ryan and others who have done similar things for their parenting students in recent years prove that with a bit of support, parenting students are capable of achieving their goals.
Editor's note: This article was published at Live Action News and is reprinted with permission.