Any successful teen moms out there?

Megan - posted on 05/07/2013

I was a teen mom I got pregnant at 16 had my son at 17 and I am now 22 and my son is 5 and I love every minute of being a mother. My son saved my life, before I got pregnant I was addicted to drugs and now I have been clean and sober since I found out I was pregnant and I am going to a community college studying to be an accountant. All I can say is I love my son and I am so thankful God put him in my life!

Natalya - posted on 05/02/2013

Yes. I got pregnant when I was 16 had my first child at 17 I'm now 22 with three children I have a wonderful man who is a great father. I'm getting my degree in early childhood education. We have a lovely home. Things couldn't be better right now

Misty - posted on 04/30/2013

ME!!! I got pregnant when I was a senior in high school at the age of 17. My boyfriend at the time was actually only 15. We have been married 9 years, and are still insanely in love, we have 3 children ages 10, 8, and 5. He served his country in the Army, and is now serving the citizens of where we live because he is a police officer! We just bought our first home, our cars are paid off, we are not living off of the government (we never have) I know this was not the "ideal" route, and in no way do I condone teens getting knocked up, but I have never regretted parenting so young. By the time our youngest is 18 I will be 40 and hubby will be 38! We will still be young and free! I stay at home, and I have so much energy for it. I loved having my kids so young, I wouldn't have changed it for the world! My husband is my soul, my best friend, my lover. We didn't get married because of the kids, we knew when I was 16 and he was 14 that we were soul mates, and we would be together forever. He's been nothing but supportive, and he is an amazing dad. As a cop especially my kids so look up to him.(and I love the uniform!) It's great you have this up, I too am a little sick off all the terrible teen mom stories (especially the ones on TV!)

Sherrie - posted on 04/25/2013

Had my son when I was 16, he just turned 20. He is a fairly well rounded adult, but of course still your normal 20 yr old male. I have been married for 12 yrs and have a 14 yr old step son who had / still has many health challenges, and an 11 yr old son with my husband. Life was EXTREMELY challenging, but I have to say worth it.

Alisha - posted on 04/20/2013

I was a mom at 18 had her at 19. I'm 26 now and she's 7. I guess it depends what you mean by successful! Haha but we are very happy and I'm in a courtship hopefully getting married soon so I can be a stay at home homeschool mom! I'm very excited to see what else God has for us!

Donna - posted on 04/16/2013

I was a teen mom at the age of 15, i am now 22 years old with 4 beautiful children ( non are twins or any type lol ) i am in the mids of finishing my HS should be graduating by next year... After that i will be in college... I own a 6 bedroom house and own my own photography business. As well as married to a loving man that is always at my side when i need him.

Carolyn - posted on 04/14/2013

I was a teen mom at 16. I am now4 6, have 2 other children, a stepson and 7 wonderful grandkids. I also have a college degree and my own cookie business. It was hard work, and finding the right person to be a great dad makes all the difference in the world too.

Annie - posted on 04/09/2013

I had my daughter when I was 17. I am no longer with her father, but I am happily married and I have 3 other children. I have a B.S. cum laude, a M.A., and Ph.D. I currently teach at a top ranked university, and I am only 29. All of my children are smart, kind, and thriving in our blended family. If you are a teen mom, your child should be your motivation! I dedicated my doctoral dissertation to my oldest daughter. She is the reason I have been a success!

Yaisamarilis - posted on 04/05/2013

I got pregnant at 18, the baby daddy didn't want to be with me. So i moved to Puerto Rico at 2 months pregnant. (I met a guy (family friend) when i went to PR for vacation at 17 y.o.) So i saw him again once i moved here. Told him everything i went/was going through and he was there for me. Now i am about to be 20, engaged to him and a stay at home mom with my beautiful baby girl. :)

Shanna - posted on 04/04/2013

Amazing... it seems I am walking a path similar to what you have done. 1 month away from those two additional letters behind my name and a paved way to more opportunity-granted I am going into Primary Care.

I had my first a month after my sixteenth birthday and my second whilst in medical school 3 years ago.

Making an interesting journey through this thing called life, but why want it any other way.

Emily - posted on 03/30/2013

I am currently a teen mom. I got pregnant a month after I turned 16. Had my son at 16. I graduated high school 7 months early. I was in a terrible relationship with the father for a little over a year. I am now 19 with a beautiful 2 1/2 year old, who is my world. I left the father and am now with a man who Ashton and I both love, and he loves us. Planning on going to college. All I ever got when I got pregnant were horror stories. But I've learned that it doesn't have to be that way.

April - posted on 03/30/2013

It was a wonderful to read the success and joy that has been achieved by motivated, driven women. I am currently writing a presentation on "Caring for teenagers in pregnancy' and presenting it to medical students and colleagues so as to hopefully give them insight to the issues surrounding teenage pregnancy and engage them to assist young mums, rather than criticise.

My story of teenage pregnancy begins at 17, then the birth of my daughter at 18, a marriage, a miscarriage, then another pregnancy at 19 and another little girl at 20.

I will happily claim to been the oldest mum on this page (that I have seen to far) at 42.

My eldest daughter is now 24, a successful university graduate and professional musician. My second daughter announced her engagement last month to her boyfriend of 7 years and is studying a bachelor of psychology to become a clinical psychologist. My third daughter is a confident young women attending a private boarding college and aspires to be a Dental Surgeon. They are cautious about relationships and life choices, having known that my road was a little more difficult having to raise children, work and study. They have been my drive and given me the desires to be successful in my own career and I want to share this as there are so many of you who may have put your true dreams and desires on hold to raise your children, and I want you all to know that there is an opportunity to go back and reach the dreams and goals.

After my second marriage and third child I decided to go back to complete my high school leaving and apply for medical school. My children were 2, 9 and 11. I was told it couldn't be done. Even my parents who had always been there to cheer me on were apprehensive about my dream. My only true believer was my maternal grandmother who happily told people I was studying to be a doctor even when I hadn't completed my high school certificate. Sadly she passed away before I entered Medical school. My family were middle-lower working class, having sold the family farm my father had various odd jobs and occupations while my mother was a homemaker. No one in our family had every been to university - and none of them really wanted to go, 'A degree is just an expensive piece of paper - its life and work experience that good employers value, not letters after your name' - or so they thought.

Near 14 years later I deliver the teenagers babies and counsel and support them, in and out of pregnancy. I stand up as an advocate for them, offer my story to help them along, speak to their parents and a partner if there is one, asking for them to be supportive and offer encouragement for future education, training and employment.

I have the best job in the world! I gained a scholarship to Medical School which with part-time work allowed the girls to not miss out on to many things. I worked on weekends when they played sports and studied until the early hours of the morning so that I could spend time with them when they were up. I made myself clean up, learnt to be organised, used newly acquired time management skills from self-help books I borrowed from the local library and started working on my ability to mentor and teach. It was an important part of my life as I wanted to inspire my children to have the drive to attend university and I wanted to have a career I enjoyed after my children had grown up.

So I hope that for a few of you who have young children and still dream your dream life and career, that you take something away from my story. Even the impossible is possible as long as you believe in yourself - (and some hard work along the way).

Vanessa - posted on 03/23/2013

i became pregnant at 16
married at 16

graduated high school on time with a 10 month old baby

graduated college with a 3 year old baby boy
and now i am a correctional officer making awesome money

i consider myself a success because i just kept on going and i never quit..
my son is my biggest motivation

Michelle - posted on 03/18/2013

Hello!! I had my son when I was 21 and I am starting nursing school in the fall! I had been enrolled in Nursing school this previous year and I would have graduated in July but I failed a math test that was mandatory to pass so I am going to be returning this fall! Its not easy with a one year old and a house and a husband to take care of but I know I can do it this time! Me and my husband were high school sweethearts and we have been together for five years and have been married for two years this April. Just because your young doesn't mean you can't be a good mother or father it's all about your motivation to be a good mother or father. I do think maturity levels have a lot to do with it but me and my husband are old people stuck in young people's bodies we never wanted to go out and party. I don't think that age matters and all of us young mothers can be successful if we want to be! It's all about motivation! And to add on to my story. We also own our own beautiful home with no mortgage it's paid for. My husband also works and makes decent money with health benefits. We never go out and party we stay at home with our boogie and play with him. And we are still madly in love.

LaShunda - posted on 03/18/2013

Wow that amazing! Have you ever told your story publicly or in a book?

Charminix - posted on 03/16/2013

I got pregnant at 15 and had my son at 16. I graduated high school, on time, with honors. I am currently a junior in college and will be a senior in the fall. I plan to go to law school after I graduate.

AndyandBelle - posted on 03/12/2013

I had my kids at 16, 19, and 21. Now I am 31, happily married, two college degrees, and 2 beautiful step-daughters. I have an amazing job, a home, a church, and wonderful family! It can be done! :)

LaShunda - posted on 03/08/2013

Krista thanks for your post. i know it was quite some time ago, but I love to share my story of being a successful teen mom. This is not to glorify teen pregnancy, b/c I certainly wish i had waited until marriage, but it is to give hope to other young ladies who are teen moms and who need encouragement to not give up on their dreams. I am currently writing a book and looking for former teen mothers to share their stories. I have a Facebook group called Former Teen Mother: Struggle, Hope, Success. Those who are interested in submitting their stories, please join the group or send me an email lls@lashundalesliesmith.com. The book will share stories from women all over the world! Thanks for reading.

Morgan - posted on 03/05/2013

Had my first at 18, the second at 19 (11 months later) and the third three months ago at 24. I have to say that being a lot older now it is much easier to handle a screaming baby in the middle of the night than it was at 18. However, I have had many people tell me, and I believe them, that I was a better mom than a lot of older moms they know. I married my husband at 18 (he was 19) when I was pregnant with the first and we bought our house three years ago when I was 21. Since I couldn't do college the first time around, I just started community college last fall when I was pregnant and am now enrolled in online classes. It hasn't always been easy, but we do what we have to do. Motherhood isn't about age, it's about sacrifice and doing whatever you have to for your children. It was much harder to sacrifice at 18 than it is now because, lets be honest, there were plenty of things I would've rather been doing than staying at home with my kid. I have never regretted having kids so young though. I wouldn't trade one day with my beautiful sons for anything. The only reason that teenage moms have such a bad reputation is because they are too selfish to step up to the plate. I raised my sons with only my husbands limited help because of work, and the advice from my family. They have helped a lot, but I have never taken advantage of my parents or grandparents. When they do decide to babysit ( I never ask them first, I let them volunteer) I usually clean house, get some sleep, or at most, go on a much-needed date with my hubby. Being a teen mom is by no means easy, but it is not as hard as those idiots on TV make it. All they have to do is be unselfish. I have missed out on the whole teenage thing, but seriously, I am glad to say I didn't have a lot of time for promiscuity and underage drinking. And look at what I've gained! 3 beautiful, healthy sons that I can be proud to say that I raised, not feel guilty because I pawned them off on someone else to go have fun. BTW, CONGRATS ON BEING A SUCESSFUL TEEN MOMMY! We are few and far between, so be proud, I know I am!

Lauren - posted on 02/14/2013

I found out I was pregnant at 18 and had my son at 19, then had another at 25 and married my now husband (father of both). We are now 26 and beginning to look for homes to buy this summer. I completed college in four years while working part time and caring for our son. My husband completed school in six years (architecture so a longer program), but we have been supporting ourselves and our children for two years ... my parents helped us out a great deal initially so we could finish school.

It really is possible, help or not, with determination. I really think maintaining our relationship has been the toughest, yet most rewarding part, just as marriage is. And we're excited to have more children in a few years. Right now we both work full time to save up as much as possible, but are working toward me working part-time so I can be home more. Keep the support of great young moms and dads coming!

Cristina - posted on 02/07/2013

I was 15 when I got pregnant. My boyfriend at the time was very possessive and abusive. With the help if my parents I was able to leave that relationship and raise my son in a loving home. It hard being a teen mom, but I can say that my parents were my angels. I git my GED and webt to college.I am now 30 my son is 14 and he is the love if my life. My husband and I met in 2003 and since then he has been the only father my son has ever known. My son loves him to death. With the support if my husband and son I have been able to continue to pursue my dream of acting. I can truly say I am blessed to have such an awesome family. You can do anything you want in life even if the odds are against you.

Debbie - posted on 01/28/2013

I was married at 18 and had 3 children by the time I was 23! I felt overwhelmed at times but I now have 11 grandchildren and have been happily married 41 years! It is possible to have a great marriage and a happy family but it takes much constant effort and prayer. I must say, at times my coping skills were lacking because of my age. I am also Christian and read the scriptures to help raise my children. I read a great idea using tokens to reward my children, likened to the parable of the talents in the New Testament that really helped me develop the abiltity to discipline consistently. It was so remarkable that we used it in our home over 11 years and I raised happy, well-disciplined children who loved each other. They talk about the happy face token system as being one of their most cherished family experiences and are using it with their children.

Natalie - posted on 01/27/2013

I was 15 when i had my son im now 24 i carried on with school and went to college I've got my son who's now 9 and a daughter who's 3 im very happily married my husband isn't my sons biological dad but he's the one who's been there and brought him up as his own and will always b his dad :-) I work full time and im training to b a coach at my work place i love my life :-) life is what u make it no matter what your age :-)

Randi - posted on 01/26/2013

well my story is a long one. but ill try and keep it simple.
i was pregnant at 15, gave birth at 16, almost died and had to get a blood transfusion.
of course i survived bc im here now righting this. My beautiful son was born boxing day, after 2 months and some dumb doctors in our town i decided to take him to cheo bc i suspected something was wrong, i dropped out of school to take care of him, bc his dad wasn't around. he started dating my 'bestfriend' and then denied the baby was his, even after a paternity test that came out 99% positive. with all this stress i found it hard to continue to go to school. after going to cheo he had to get surgery on his stomach due to something called pyloricstenosous. shortly after his surgery i started talking to an old boyfriend, whom i started dating again. a few months later it got serious, and he took on my son as his own. 2 years later i got pregnant again. I just had this baby 2 months ago. and im still with the daddy, for 3 years now. he is an amazing guy. again for this baby i had a hard delivery lost too much blood again, fainted, blood clotts, overnight stays in the hospital. its ruff, but my babies are worth it. there has been alot of road blocks in my life. im currently living with my mom who is suppose to be taking care of me, but im the one who buys the groceries, pays the bills and takes care of everyone and cooks for everyone. its hard. when i need someone to help me, but im the one helping everyone else, and being taken advantage of. i just wish people would appreciate the things i do for them , and do half the things for me. i am currently doing everything i can to finish school, im apartment searching, and had just gotten everything i need, fridge stove ect... just trying to get out there on my own with out people taking advantage of me, trying to do whats best for my kids. Im almost there. Going to go to school for PSW, or Culinary Arts. I love to cook ! Wish me luck.

Dianna - posted on 01/23/2013

I had my baby boy when I was only 16. I am now 17 & married to the father of my baby. we got married 3 months before our baby was born & he is now 4 months old (: I just got a letter of acceptance from California State University Chico. & I plan on graduating highschool and getting my bachelors degree in biology there or California State University Sacramento. I then plan on going to medical school to become a pediatrician. My husband is planning on going to a community college to play baseball and then transfering into a University. Even though I wont be a stay at home mom I promised my baby that I will be successful, and give him everything I can. (: God bless!

Tiffany Morgan Marie - posted on 01/17/2013

I'm a single tenn parent i got praganant at 14 years old and my baby has not even seen hos dad once.

Corina Mia - posted on 01/15/2013

im a single mom of three kids. and raised them on my own. i am doing good, i am in Job corps getting a diploma and my CNA i am bettering my life for me and my kids.

Carmen - posted on 01/14/2013

Congratulations, Melissa!! Doesn't it feel so good to graduate?!?!

Melissa - posted on 01/13/2013

I wrote on this a year ago an just wanted to say if you believe you can do it you will! I did graduate university! My son is almost 2 and is learning quickly just this week he learnt to use the potty! I give all teen moms out there encouragement and excitement for years to come and if anyone needs to talk feel free to message me :)

Christina - posted on 01/13/2013

absolutely! you can check out my blog at www.notanotherteenmommy.com, for my success story, and also http://steppsboston.org/young-parent-blo... for a look at some other young parents out there who refuse to become statistics :)

Lana - posted on 12/25/2012

I was 17 when I got pregnant with my daughter 18 when she was born. I did drop out of school but got my GED. This was because I have always been her only supporter from day 1 and where I worked at the time it's what I had to do to b able to raise her. She will 6 in march and is happy and healthy as could b. I am not with her father and she doesn't even know who he is which is fine by me. I am however engaged to a wonderful man that I have been with for almost 4 years now. I will b going to nursing classes starting n February and he is hoping to do the same. By the end of 2013 we plan to be n a house that we will be buying instead of renting but we do have our own place and my daughter is very well taken care of. I do this on my own without help from my family. I just feel that I am responsible for her being here and she is my world so I wouldn't have it any other way. For those teen parents that have done a good job with their children but don't get acknowledged for it don't worry about it u kno what u are doing and where u are going it's just a shame that all these kids make choices that they don't take responsibility for. Keep up the good work!

Carina - posted on 12/12/2012

I was 15 when i found out i was pregnant. I had my daughter at 16. She is the most beautiful baby in the world. She is now 9 months old and i am 17. Sophia has never met her father and i am okay with that. Of course i have my weak moments after not sleeping enough for days but i get over the stress because i love my baby. My family has been super supportive and i graduate high school next year. I will be graduating with half my credits for an associates degree. I plan to go to school and become a dentist. NO matter what! I am able to be a stay at home mom because of my moms help. & All those dumb names we hear for being teen moms are completely ridiculous. We are not in anyway sluts. I got pregnant after my first time. I quickly learned to shrug them off. I have a 4.0 GPA and i would consider myself a great mom. I have been lucky enough to keep all my best friends and even occasionally dated guys my age. Even if im not at 100% success yet i will be soon enough. Goodluck ladies so happy we all chose LIFE!

Carina - posted on 12/12/2012

I was 15 when i found out i was pregnant. I had my daughter at 16. She is the most beautiful baby in the world. She is now 9 months old and i am 17. Sophia has never met her father and i am okay with that. Of course i have my weak moments after not sleeping enough for days but i get over the stress because i love my baby. My family has been super supportive and i graduate high school next year. I will be graduating with half my credits for an associates degree. I plan to go to school and become a dentist. NO matter what! I am able to be a stay at home mom because of my moms help. & All those dumb names we hear for being teen moms are completely ridiculous. We are not in anyway sluts. I got pregnant after my first time. I quickly learned to shrug them off. I have a 4.0 GPA and i would consider myself a great mom. I have been lucky enough to keep all my best friends and even occasionally dated guys my age. Even if im not at 100% success yet i will be soon enough. Goodluck ladies so happy we all chose LIFE!

Raven - posted on 12/07/2012

I got pregnant at 16 and had my beautiful baby girl just three weeks ago.

I already live in my boyfriend and I's own house.

We have a nice safe car.

He's in college and I'm accepted into the spring quarter coming up. :)

Kylee - posted on 12/05/2012

My husband and i had been together 3 years before i got pregnant. i was also a "teen" mom. pregnant, married, and gave birth at 18 years old. im now 19, and a stay at home mom. so i guess you would say im a success story!

Kris - posted on 12/04/2012

I had my first baby at 17. I married her father when she was 4 months old. I now have a 22 year old, an 18 year old, and a 15 year old. My oldest trip are both high school graduates with the youngest on the right path for graduation in 2015. I have been married to their dad for 21 years now. We both have great jobs and are happy! I think that is a happy ending!

Carmen - posted on 12/01/2012

Bianca, in answer to your question: my kids. How could I look at them and not do everything possible to raise them right? How could I not grow up and do what I needed to do to provide for them? They didn't ask to be born to a young mother. They didn't deserve to have a child for a mother, and I was going to make sure that they didn't have one. People have told me that I behaved like a 30-something year old, that I needed to lighten up and have some fun, but I didn't, at least not in the way that they were thinking. I'm half way through raising my first son, and he's happy, a good student, and he's kind. He's a little disorganized, but hey, no one's perfect, lol. ;o) My other two sons are doing just as well, so everything that I had to put aside, the choices that I made, it's all been worth it.

KyAnne - posted on 12/01/2012

I am 19, I was 14 when I got pregnant and had my son at 15. While labor and delivery was nearly a death experience for my son and I I'd like to say that I am very successful and will continue in achieving the very best that I can for my son. Going through highschool in the town that I did, many judged for such a young pregnancy. While being called names, hateful texts/calls from people, it was a very hard time. I pushed through it. While staying in band, sports, and extra school functions, having a job and still taking care of my son 100% in highschool. I graduated highschool and am now a college student. Medical school was something I always wanted to get into, I wanted to be a pediatric oncologist. But I came to realize, even though I'd be helping so many kids in the future, I would lose time with my son. So now my I will be majoring in interior design and a minor in photography. Something I also have a pasion for. My son has a very high vocabulary, and is well above average for his age (3). I was blessed with not only the best thing that ever happened to me but such a beautiful and strong boy himself. He's already achieved so many things in life and I cannot wait to watch him grow up and achieve greatness. His father is not involed, left me 3 weeks after finding out that we were pregnant. We've been on our own sense. I'm glad that I've had my mother to lean on as she was a young mother as well with me. Not quite as young as I am, but she has still been a huge part of my son and I lives.

Carmen - posted on 11/30/2012

You know Sarah, you are right. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on my blog? www.beautifullychallenged.biz. You'll find a link for my email there.

Marcy - posted on 11/30/2012

I had my son at 19. I went on to have 2 more boys by the time I was 26. When my youngest was about 7 I went back to school. I have a B.A in Liberal Studies, minored in math, and I have a masters in Education. I think anything is possible. Dont let society, or statistics tell you that you cannot succeed at both.

Sarah - posted on 11/26/2012

Well, how many people will see this I don't know... But, here goes. I was 18 when I got pregnant with my daughter who was born when I was 19... I am now the oldest person on this thread to say their age at 37, with a 17 year old daughter.



Am I a successful teen mom?? I like to think so, but I think I base my successes differently than some of the rest of the moms on this thread... I'll say it like this. I have a husband, he's my second one. It took me a while to figure out who I was and what I wanted out of life. I have a college degree- it took me 12 years to get it and more days than I can count of not getting enough sleep, or staying up all night with a toddler sleeping next to me to get it. I have owned my own home and lost it in the housing crisis, but I have rebuilt enough that we should be able to get one again early next year. I own my car out right, but we choose to have only one to save money so hubby and I share. I am a stay at home mom and pregnant with my second child right this second. I was super excited to pee on a stick and WANT to see an extra line show up...



But, none of those things are why I consider myself a successful teen mom. The reason I believe I am a successful teen mom is because my daughter is happy, healthy, normal, well-adjusted, talented, sweet, and successful. She is a senior in high school. She makes good grades. She likes me and includes me in her life. She's not pregnant, nor has she ever been pregnant. She is looking forward to going to college in the fall. She believes in herself and is an amazing young woman! THAT is why I am a successful teen mom. Because I raised a young lady who can cook, clean, take care of herself, work hard, create, and accomplish!! I am a success because the hard work, long hours, and countless sacrifices I made allowed her to grow up AWESOME!!



So, pardon me if I smugly say that some of you won't realize how successful you have been as parents until you see your children finish growing up into who they will be!! THEN, you can be proud of yourself for what you have accomplished and have reason to be so! But, maybe then you will also know that what house you own or degree you got or car you drive or relationship you made work really haven't much to do with whether you were a successful teen parent. Being a successful teen parent is not about what you got but rather about who you raised, especially if that includes yourself too...

Alisa - posted on 11/19/2012

I had my daughter when I was 18. I am now 25. She is not only very happy and cared for, but she is absolutely spoiled! Her father and I were together for 5 years, engaged for 3 but split up. We simply grew up and were not the same people, but we get along well and work together to raise our daughter together even though we are seperate. I own a children's clothing store now and share a nice home with my boyfriend of 3 years who loves my daughter and I completely. Yes it was hard but once you have a child young you realize that you have to grow up fast, be responsible and step up. Your child needs a parent not a sibling. You can still have a life, but it needs to be a responsible life. Your child should ALWAYS come first no matter what. As long as the parents step up, do whatever needs to be done and love their child unconditionally there can be many more success stories :)

Stacy - posted on 11/10/2012

"Congratulations"...and you know what, I didn't have the greatest head start. I had my daughter at the age of 15; I graduated from an alternative high school; I did not take the ACT or the SAT; I have been homeless and have slept on park benches at Loyola Park District and camped out on strangers' floors with my daughter; I have had to stand in that lllllooooonnnnngggg line for food, dental care, and health care; I have had to work dead-end jobs where my superiors have openly accused me of being every negative stereotype just because they could; I have been on unemployment; I began college at the age of 23 in the lowest level courses where I was in class with students that were 18 and 19 years old; my car caught on fire with me and all of my books and supplies in it on the very first day of school at NIU and they photographed me crying on the curb and put it in the school newspaper...and I kept going because TRUE FAILURE would be if I gave up after all of those things tried to knock me down.



Now fast-forward; I was downtown not having the best Monday at first, so I went to visit Judge Shelli Hayes; and while sitting at her computer, I saw this in my email :: "...you have passed your comprehensive exams...you have completed all requirements for your [Master's] degree"...sssooo guess what??? I'M GRADUATING THIS DECEMBER Y'ALL...and yes, I am continuing my "professional student" status by moving onto a Doctoral program.

Destiny - posted on 11/01/2012

I was 14 when I got pregnant and 15 when I had my son. I graduated high school as salutatorian of my class at 16. I immediately went to college for a business degree. I'm now 18 years old and will graduate with my bachelors degree in supply chain management in fall 2013. I am a recipient of a diversity scholarship and am able to maintain higher than a 3.5 GPA. My 2 1/2 year old son goes to a wonderful preschool and has a fantastic vocabulary for his age. He is healthy and sooo smart. His father got married to best girl for him so my son has a step mom and he's about to have a little brother. They work full time, go to college and have an apartment (about to buy a house). He's 19 and she's 20. We all graduated high school early and provide the best education for our son. I have a boyfriend that I've been with since I was pregnant and he absolutely loves my son and my son loves him. He graduated high school on time and he works and goes to college.



Overall I would say we're all pretty successful. Not just because we graduated and are attending college but because we all do what we can to keep our kids happy.

Bianca - posted on 10/30/2012

What encouraged you guys to be successful?

Bianca - posted on 10/30/2012

What encouraged you guys to be successful?

Carmen - posted on 10/22/2012

Yes! I am 28 now, but was 18 when I had my first. I am a college graduate and now I am enjoying being a stay-at-home-mom. I love living with out the worry of, "how am I going to support my family if something happens to my husband." I feel confident and comfortable in who I am now. It hasn't always been easy, but I'm glad I stuck it out and have done well. My kids are also great! They are happy, healthy and they are very good students! They've never once had a C on any of their report cards and I am so proud of them for all of their hard work!!

Amanda - posted on 10/17/2012

i am 18 i had my son at 16.. i have a great apt. and a brand new car and everything i have a great job and its awesome... i have a loving fiance who loves my son and helps very single day!!

Elizabeth - posted on 10/17/2012

I am 18 years old. I had my son when I was 17. When I found out I was pregnant I had enough credits to graduate high school midterm and that is exactly what I did! I also I am now a sophomore in college and raising my son completely on my own. His father has seen him a total of 3 times.

Carmen - posted on 10/15/2012

I was 18 when I had my first son. I am 28 now and all 3 of my sons are amazing! I am college educated, I earned my BA from a good university, and while I am now capable of earning a good income, I chose to stay at home. I've been married to my amazing husband for 8 years, and he is also getting ready to graduate from university with a BA in Business. My older kids are A/B students and always have been. It hasn't been easy, but I've fought the fight, and I've come through it. :o) I started a blog, www.beautifullychallenged.biz, and share stories from me and from others, talk about all things parenting, as well as everything else pertaining to life. I have info about finances, I'm working on some things about saving money, I have the pearls of wisdom that helped me get through, etc. :o) I'm always looking for people to share their stories there too!