When Jamie Burmood became pregnant in 1996, she was afraid she would not be able to graduate alongside her classmates. Not only has Laser allowed Burmood the chance to graduate on time, it has also calmed her fears by offering an education with compassion and understanding. “I was on bed rest for the last five months of my pregnancy and I only received a half credit at Flathead,” said Burmood. “That’s when I was told that I wouldn’t be able to graduate with my class. But then I came to Laser, worked hard and now I will be graduating with my class this June.” Burmood juggles a part-time job at Shopko as well as being a full-time mother and student. Each of those tasks are difficult, and the pressure was almost too much for Burmood until she transferred to Laser, she said. “The pressure of being both a mom and a student was greatly lifted by going to Laser,” said Burmood. “Assignments for school are due before the end of the semester instead of the next day, which is more convenient for me.” Burmood starts her day to the blaring of her 6:30 a.m. alarm. From that moment on, Burmood tries to balance her time between getting herself ready for school and taking care of Katie. By 7:30, Burmood leaves the house to take Katie to daycare, with a packed breakfast and lunch Burmood prepared earlier. She arrives at the FHS for a class at 8 a.m. After biology, Burmood journeys to Laser for the rest of her classes. When school is over at 3:10 p.m. Burmood heads straight for Shopko until 10 p.m., while her mother picks Katie up from daycare. After a long day of school and work Burmood goes home and once again tries to balance time for homework and time to get Katie ready for bed. Burmood then lays Katie down for the night and either goes to bed or does more homework. “It’s crazy in the morning at my house trying to get ready for school and getting Katie ready for daycare,” said Burmood. “I usually pop in a movie for Katie to watch to buy a little more time to get ready for school.” Burmood has attended Laser for two years, and says she prefers it over Flathead because Laser is more flexible and it fits her lifestyle better. “I came to Laser because it seemed like the best thing for a teen mother,” said Burmood. “Plus, the high school left me no other choice if I wanted to graduate in 1998.” To many people, Laser is thought to be “easy” compared to the high school, but Burmood would argue that. According to Burmood, Laser is just as difficult as FHS. A difference between the two, however, is the lack of lectures and overnight assignments at Laser. “At Laser, you work at your own pace. I’m never pressed for deadlines, although I’m encouraged to do my best as fast I can,” said Burmood. “Some nights Katie isn’t feeling well and I don’t have time to do homework, so not having deadlines helps out a lot.” Laser has no dress code, allows hats in the building, and permits food and drinks in the classroom. Still, there are rules that need to be followed. For instance, if a student is absent more than five times during a 20-day period, the student “washes out,” which means they must perform 20 hours of community service before they can return to Laser. Also, if a students doesn’t finish all the required work for that semester, they don’t receive credit and have to start over the next semester. “Some students are too immature to attend Laser,” said Laser director Arlene Myllymaki. “All they see is the no dress code and longer lunch aspects of Laser — they don’t see another chance at receiving a diploma.” There are currently 70 students enrolled in Laser, but not all the students are there at the same time. Because of FHS classes, jobs or parenting responsibilities, Laser students have flexible schedules. That’s what makes Laser special and a more reasonable choice for certain students, according to Myllymaki. To make the day a little more difficult, Burmood has no transportation of her own. Usually she can find a ride from someone, but unfortunately, not all the time. “Not having a car of my own makes for difficult times,” said Burmood. “I remember one day I couldn’t find a ride and I had to work, so I had to leave Laser at 1:30 and walk over to Katie’s daycare. Then Katie and I walked home, which is over by The Outlaw Inn. I got ready for work and then we walked to Katie’s father’s house, so he could watch her while I was at work. From his house, I walked to Shopko. That was one of the worst days of my life.” As if Burmood didn’t have enough responsibilities, she moved out of her parents’ house last summer, but due to financial problems, moved back home a few months later. “I lived on my own for about six months and that really opened my eyes,” said Burmood. “I was working more than 40 hours a week and still barely making ends meet.” Although Jamie has a tough and very busy life, she wouldn’t change it now. Said Burmood: “I wouldn’t change the struggle I’ve gone through by being a young mom because every time Katie smiles at me and says ‘I love you’ to me, it makes the hard times well worth it.” |
