No ordinary student: Whitehead takes non-traditional path

At first glance, you may think Annette Whitehead, spunky and outspoken senior graphic design major at Ouachita Baptist University, is your typical, run-of-the-mill student.

But Whitehead, 28, is far from ordinary.

Whitehead works as the features editor for The Signal, balances a part time job at First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, and manages to pay the bills — all the while raising a 9-year-old son as a single mother.

Whitehead was born in Cairo, Ill. As part of a military family, she and her family bounced around from Illinois to Georgia to Louisiana before finally settling in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

After high school, she got married and had her son, David Whitehead III, in July of 1999. She divorced in 2004 and realized that she needed to become financially stable in order to support David full-time.

After looking around at a few schools, she got accepted to OBU and became a student in the fall of 2007 because of the work-study and part-time job opportunities and the conveniently located on-campus apartments where she could raise her son.

While much of her school and work are in close proximity to each other, her greatest challenge has been diligent time management to make sure she has time for her son — her utmost priority.

“Scheduling was important to me to make sure that I had time for David,” Whitehead said. She also attributes a part of her time management success to the understanding of the OBU staff who, according to Whitehead, were “always very supportive and willing to help out whenever they could.”

Not only Whitehead’s drive to succeed, but her passion for graphic design and art are visible to her classmates. Bethany Lynn Briscoe, graphic design major, has Drawing I, Fundamentals of Art and Painting with Whitehead.

“She is really good at coming up with really creative ideas when it comes to critiques,” Briscoe said. “She’s got a creative mind. I look at her stuff and think ‘Wow, I never would have thought of that.’”

Briscoe also mentioned how Whitehead’s work ethic and drive are visible in the classroom.

“She’s really determined, focused and she knows what she wants. A lot of people usually don’t come back to college after having a kid. It’s not easy, but Annette’s there,” Briscoe said.

And just when you think Whitehead has too much on her plate, Ardith Franklin, Annette’s supervisor at First Baptist Church, says Annette always has a positive attitude and likes to help others.

“She is a busy student and single mom who works hard to take care of her child and herself,” Franklin said. “She also participates in church activities — helping out with the Sunday school — so she takes on helping other people in that way too.”

Whitehead’s mother, Donna Mitchell, attributes her daughter’s against-the-odds-success to her constant drive and motivation which come from her independence and positive determination.

“One word doesn’t really describe Annette. She’s independent, creative, complex. And she’s only become a stronger person as she’s gotten older,” Mitchell said proudly.“She’s done an excellent job. She’s gone through some trials and come back stronger than ever. If she makes up her mind to do something, she’s going to find a way to do it. It might take her a little while…but she’s going to do it,” Mitchell added.

Mitchell believes that her daughter is strong and can overcome any obstacle.

“She likes to go up against brick walls because she’s going to try to break through them,” Mitchell said.

Compared to many college students, Whitehead has, and still does encounter a few brick walls. But Whitehead’s remarkable strength of character and independent spirit are the attributes that allow her to break down walls and defy the odds against her.