At Student Quarters, we know the people who make up the SQuad are more than their job titles.
They’re leaders, teammates, supporters, problem-solvers — and for many, they’re also moms.
This Mother’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the incredible moms and soon-to-be moms across the SQuad who somehow balance work calls, deadlines, snack requests, bedtime routines, and everything in between.
When we asked a few SQuad members what motherhood has taught them, one thing became clear very quickly: motherhood changes your perspective on everything.
For many, it’s taught them patience and presence.
“Being present where you are,” Angela Abraham shared when talking about work/life balance. “Ten minutes where you are PRESENT is better than an hour when you are on your phone the whole time.”
Melissa Vega-Matta echoed a similar sentiment.
“When I’m with my son, I try to be fully present and not mentally still sitting at my desk,” she said. “Some days I do that well, other days I’m answering emails while reheating dinosaur nuggets, and I’ve learned that both are okay.”
Motherhood has also shaped the way these women lead, communicate, and support others.
“Motherhood has taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of giving both myself and others grace,” Melody Miles shared. “Sometimes your 100% today may not look the same tomorrow, and that’s okay.”
Liz Miller shared that becoming a mom helped her focus less on the little things.
“It’s made me more patient and better with my time,” she said. “I don’t overthink the little things anymore.”
Of course, motherhood also comes with plenty of funny moments, especially while working.
Angela shared a story about her son losing his first tooth during a work call.
“I started cheering and shouting and was like, ‘I gotta go! Call ya later!’”
Melissa shared that one of her son’s surprise appearances during a meeting turned into an inside joke company-wide.
“One time my son hopped on camera during a call yelling, ‘HELLO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLEEEE of AMERICAAAAA!’ like he was opening a live TV show.”
And in perhaps the most relatable interruption of all, Melody’s daughter once simply announced:
“Mom, I have to poop.”
Beyond the funny moments, each mom shared how meaningful support and flexibility at Student Quarters has been throughout their journey.
“So many of our core values support working parents,” Angela shared.
Melody added, “I feel incredibly fortunate to work for a company that truly values family and understands that life happens outside of work, too.”
For Melissa, that support comes down to simply knowing people understand real life.
“Motherhood is unpredictable,” she shared. “It helps knowing you’re surrounded by people who understand real life happens sometimes and still support you professionally.”
When asked what they hope their children learn from watching them work hard, the answers were inspiring.
“I’m raising two future husbands,” Angela shared. “I want them to know that women don’t just deserve a seat at the table… they deserve at least half the seats.”
Melissa hopes her son learns resilience, kindness, and accountability.
“I want him to understand that hard work matters, but so does kindness and how you treat people when nobody’s watching.”
And for Melody, success is about more than achievement.
“I hope she grows up understanding that success is not just about working hard, but also about how you make people feel along the way.”
This Mother’s Day, we’re incredibly thankful for the moms of the SQuad and the example they set every single day.
Thank you for showing up for your families, the SQuad, and yourselves.
Thank you for leading with kindness, resilience, humor, patience, and authenticity.
And thank you for reminding all of us that while the days may feel long sometimes, the moments that matter most are often the little ones.
Happy Mother’s Day from Student Quarters!
