College student was in ‘quandary’ after childcare change — then a professor stepped in
A South Carolina mom had a change in her childcare routine — then experienced a moment of “compassion.”
When other plans fell through, college student Peterra Richburg was left in a “quandary.” Her only option was to bring her 2-month-old daughter to campus with her, to the delight of her classmates at Lander University, the school said Sept. 9 in a news release.
But when Richburg, a senior elementary education major, left math class to go to the restroom, her baby started making a fuss, WHNS reported.
“I figured we could ignore her cries until Mom returned, or I could hold her and see if I could help,” Samuel Reed, an assistant mathematics professor, said in the release. “So, I picked her up and continued teaching.
“I also wanted Peterra to not feel distracted and be able to actively participate with her peers around her. Plus, who doesn’t want to hold a cute baby!?”
Photos shared on social media show the professor comforting his student’s baby, allowing her to focus on taking notes during class. Several people who commented online praised Reed for his actions.
“The world needs more people like this man,” one Facebook user wrote.
Another person commented: “I love this! So glad we have professors who can adjust to our students and their needs when home and school life collides!”
Reed, himself the dad of a toddler, said he’s “not a unique Lander professor who goes out of their way to accommodate students.” In 2016, one of his colleagues gained attention after holding a student’s sleeping baby, according to the school.
After the latest gesture, Richburg said she appreciated the attention given to her young daughter, Aria.
“My baby is only two months old and she’s already in college,” Richburg wrote in a Facebook post. “I love my University and Dr. Reed for supporting me, thanks guys.”
Lander University is a public school that had nearly 4,000 students in fall 2021. The campus is in Greenwood, roughly 55 miles south of Greenville.
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