Akiya Parks, a senior at the University of Florida, and her 3-year-old son Caleb, walk through campus.

Akiya Parks (center) in a class required for her Family, Youth and Community Sciences major.

"It motivated me more to finish," Parks says, reflecting on college life with Caleb. "It wasn't like, 'oh man he's gonna slow me down.' I don't want him to feel like he held me back from anything."

On campus and in class, Parks blends in, just another student. She relishes it; her courses are her escape.