We have a good mix of younger and more mature adults in our school. We are in area that most of the mature adults are juggling family, job and school. The younger students mostly all have jobs too to assist them with tuition, gas, rent, and electronic devices bills.
The school has a strict attendance policy and if students waiver they get reminded right away to keep school the priority; obviously unless it is a true emergency. Planning ahead is key to keeping up with all of life, especially during these busy years of higher education.
Keeping their eye on the prize, in this case a degree or certification, is discussed often because this education they are working on now will aid them in getting a job or a better job that will ultimately be beneficial to their families. So, I usually do not use the words "making sacrifices". Instead I say "planning for the future takes commitment to their adult education".
