At MIT LGO, significant others and family are part of our community too! We often get asked how students are able to earn two degrees in two years and find balance? Shane Vigil, LGO ’21 and father of two, shares some insights on how he has been able to blend LGO with family.
What are the age(s) of your child/children?
I have two girls. My youngest is 3, and the other turned 7 recently.
How have you managed to balance family with LGO?
Before COVID-19, we set a routine where I would be on campus morning to late afternoon every day during the week. Even if I didn’t have class, I would study and get work done in the LGO lounge or one of the spectacular MIT libraries. This afforded me the opportunity to maximize my time with my family during the nights and weekends. Things are a little bit different now. I try to maintain a similar schedule virtually – but my youngest isn’t shy about Zoom bombing my class once in a while! At the end of the day, I’m really lucky to have such a loving wife who has supported me throughout my LGO journey. I’m sure she has picked up parental duties that I haven’t even noticed, all while working and earning her Master’s degree.
Has your significant other and family been involved in the MIT/LGO Community? If so, how?
The student life committee welcomes those with families and ensures there are community events geared towards kids. In 2019, we had a great 4th of July party, and I won’t forget our LGO class apple picking trip during the fall. Even with COVID-19 this year, we still managed to have a virtual baby shower for 2 classmates who are expecting (Yes, LGOs start families during their time here, too!).
What resources have been helpful to transition into LGO?
The most helpful resources during my transition were other MIT/LGO parents. I remember when we first got to Boston, one of the parents in the class ahead of me sat down with us to talk about childcare options, places to go sightseeing, and the best parks to take the kids.
Here are some other resources I found helpful:
- Technology Childcare Centers
- MIT Backup Child Care
- MIT Center for WorkLife and WellBeing for faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate students, and their families.
- MIT Medical Health Coverage for Families
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By Shane Vigil, LGO Class of 2021