s he sits in the cramped living room of his one-story home surrounded by business papers, family photos and an assortment of children's toys, the lifestyle of Cameron Grubbs seems far removed from that of his peers.
At 23, Grubbs is a husband, father of four and manager of a Muncie sound shop. Despite the responsibilities of both his family and job, Grubbs has kept a promise he made to himself long ago to finish college.
Five years and countless credit hours later, the senior journalism major is rapidly closing in on earning his undergraduate degree. Through it all, Grubbs said he is surprised at the number of students who find his lifestyle extraordinary.
"For me, this is just my life," he said. "I've never been out of my parents' home without some sort of responsibility, and it's not as if I'm the only one trying to do this."
FATHERHOOD AS A FRESHMAN
When Grubbs' biological son, Jordan, was born on July 2, 1996, he admits he was insecure about being a father at age 17.
As he started college in the fall of 1997, Grubbs said he was forced to adjust to fatherhood.
"When Jordan was born, it introduced me to a whole new set of responsibilities," he said. "I had to start paying child support to sure my son had what he needed."
Grubbs was granted partial custody of his son, receiving visitation rights on both nights and weekends.
"There were times when I couldn't go and do the things I wanted to do, but I never felt like Jordan hindered any of my activities," he said.
MAKING ENDS MEET
Grubbs has worked his way up to a managerial position at his sound shop, AMS ProSound and Lighting. The store, located at 900 E. Streeter Ave., opened in August of last year.
Before he worked at the sound shop, Grubbs had spent much of his junior year working at Staples office supply store. He was forced to take a leave of absence from the workplace, however, when his second child was born premature.
"Caitlyn was born on May 17, 2000, and she was three months early," he said. "I didn't get to spend much time with her, because for the first two or three months I was unable to hold her while she was in the hospital."
Returning to school after Caitlyn's birth, Grubbs worked as a disc jockey while picking up various part-time jobs.
Grubbs has held numerous positions since he has become a father in order to provide his family with everything it needs.
"Now that I have a wife and kids, I worry about money and how I'm going to make ends meet," Grubbs said.
LOVE ONLINE
Grubbs' first date with his future wife, Samantha, did not include dinner and a movie, but a conversation that came about with the click of a mouse last February.
After an all-night chat, Grubbs said he knew the two of them had hit it off well.
"People are always skeptical about this type of a relationship, but we both got to know each other online before we met," he said. "Within the first night in the chat room we were talking to each other over the phone."
When Grubbs' made the first trip to Columbia, Miss., to meet Samantha, he brought a Web cam with him to install on her computer.
After the two made several trips to visit each other, the couple decided to marry.
"We went to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for our wedding," Grubbs said. "It was in between where we both lived, and for $600 we were able to get a ceremony, pictures and a honeymoon."
Grubbs and his wife exchanged vows on July 30, 2001 and ultimately decided to return to Muncie.
"One of the reasons Samantha moved up here is because, due to the arrangements of my children's visitation rights, I wasn't able to move anyplace else," Grubbs said.
Grubbs' custody agreements for his biological children, both of different mothers, require him to retain residence in Indiana.
Along with his two children, Grubbs chose to become a step-father to Samantha's daughter Angel, 5, and Samuel, who was born shortly after the two met.
"Samantha was pregnant when I met her, but I never had a problem with that," he said. "I always liked her for who she was as a person."
FULL-TIME DAD
Although many young men would think twice about marrying and beginning a family at the age of 23, Grubbs' said he was willing and ready to take on two more children.
"You hear the term 'insta-family,' and maybe that's how someone would look at a situation like mine, but circumstances don't change anything," he said. "Whoever the person is that you're with - whether they have two kids or not - it doesn't change them as a person."
One of the most significant changes in Grubbs' married life has been including Samantha, Angel and Samuel as permanent additions to his family and home.
"Taking care of Jordan helped prepare me for the added responsibilities of becoming a full-time dad," Grubbs said.
Grubbs' wife said being a full-time parent has also helped her husband grow as an individual.
"Cameron is one of those parents people call 'weekend warriors,'" she said. "He only gets to see his biological children so often, but by being around my children 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he's grown up a lot and has become more patient with the children."
BALANCING ACT
Grubbs' work schedule revolves around his Monday and Wednesday journalism classes. On a given day, he is up at 7:30 a.m., at work from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. when not attending class, and back home in the evenings to eat dinner, spend time with his family and work on further business out of the house.
Along with managing time for both his job and the kids, Samantha said Grubbs works hard at his schoolwork.
"We both know college is going to better him in the long run, so we all try to help him out in the best way we know how," she said.
Grubbs said, "Samantha has definitely been a factor in me doing all of this. She's there for me to come home to, and it gives me a good feeling to know I'm not doing all of this alone."
NO LOOKING BACK
Grubbs said one of the greatest achievements in his life has been parenthood.
"One of the highest points I've ever had was holding my children for the first time," he said. "It was probably the first time I've ever realized that this is where I'm supposed to be in my life."
Along with the fortunes of being a father, Grubbs said he has been lucky his family has been so supportive throughout the many changes in his life.
"I've known lots of people who were thrown out for lesser mistakes than I've made," he said. "I've been so blessed to have parents and a wife who continue to help me out."
Though Grubbs admits he has made some mistakes in his past, he does not feel guilty about anything he has done.
"Regretting the things I've done wrong in life would take away from what I've gained out of the experiences - the responsibilities, the love and the lessons I've learned," he said. "Sure there are times I wish things might have turned out differently. But, if they had, then I might not be the same person I am today."
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