posted Jan 9, 2010 4:18 AM by Kelvin Alfaro
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updated Aug 10, 2011 2:46 PM by Mayra Oliver
]
My name is Amanda Hastings and I was born on August 27, 1991 in Fresno, CA. When I was 15 years old, I found out I was pregnant. At first, I was scared because I was a sophomore and I thought the whole world was going to end. I had good grades and had planned in my mind, what I wanted to do with my life. I thought I wanted to be a Probation Officer and work with people who need help changing their lives.
My son Jayden Jesse Campos was born on July 21, 2007 and my whole world did change. When I had my beautiful son, I found out that I had to push to make something of myself, not only for me but also for my son. I am a single parent and it is hard at times but I get though it. I will be 18 years old soon and graduated from Fresno High School, Class of 2009! I graduated with a 3.33 grade point average.
I am very proud of myself because there were many challenges that made it almost impossible. I studied and worked hard so I could accomplish this goal for my son and me. I want a good life for my son and I will continue to do what it takes. I am starting Fresno City College in the fall 2009. I will be doing a paid internship with the Criminology Department and plan on getting a degree in this area. I still want to be a Probation Officer and I will graduate from college. Throughout my struggles of being a single, teen parent, I have learned to find support with my family and friends.
I was part of a Teen Parent Support Group at Fresno High School where I met Sarah Villa and Rosalinda Gutierrez. I learned to not keep things inside and its ok to talk about things with people you trust. I found out I wasn’t the only one going through these issues. I really appreciate Sarah and Rosalinda’s support and many activities. They helped a lot and they are like family to us now. I would like to Thank First 5 because without them, we would not have been able to be a part of a great program to help us be better parents and accomplish our goals!
By: Amanda Hastings |
posted Jan 9, 2010 4:17 AM by Kelvin Alfaro
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updated Aug 10, 2011 2:46 PM by Mayra Oliver
]
My name is Cynthia Reinaga and I’m a single teen mom raising my child. I’m a dedicated mom trying my best to give my son everything he needs and raise him right.
I remember when we had just found out about me being pregnant. We were so young, I was 15 and the father of my son was 16. We had been together for about a year and a half. He was my first boyfriend and my whole world. We thought we would get married and be a family, but things didn’t turn out that way.
The reality was my parents didn’t want me to get married or even move out. So through the whole pregnancy he would just come visit me at my parents home. For a couple of months things were good, but it didn’t last. We had to go through so much. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think back, but things are different know.
After I had my son I still continued to go to high school. Luckily for me, my school provided a daycare at the school. I took my son to daycare since he was two weeks old. I was able to visit him during breaks and lunch. Even though things were hard for me at times, I always worked hard in school. I earned good grades through high school and graduated with a 3.6 GPA. I got involved in a couple of programs, so I can learn how to be a good mom.
I have tried my best to get educated to be able to support my son and myself. As of today, I am 18 years old and live with my parents. I’m going to start my second year in college in a couple of weeks. I feel proud of myself for working hard to better myself not only for me but also for my son. My life isn’t what I had expected it to be or even what I wanted, but at least I have a wonderful son by my side. My son is my whole world and I love him so much. Being a mom is such an amazing thing, especially when you can see the love for you in your child’s eyes. My son has been and will be my number one motivation. I’m planning to keep going to school and get a degree in victimology. I want to be able to help others. I still have a couple of more years in college but when I graduate I want to get my own place. My biggest goal is to be able to get a place for my son and myself. |
posted Jan 9, 2010 4:17 AM by Kelvin Alfaro
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updated Aug 10, 2011 2:46 PM by Mayra Oliver
]
My name is Jasmine. I was born and raised in San Diego, but I am now going into my 2nd year living in Fresno, CA. I just recently turned 18 in May 2009. I have a beautiful daughter named Miah, she’s turning two in September 2009.
If you do the math, I got pregnant at 15, and had her at 16. My story may not be as bad or as good as other stories that many teen moms have told, but I enjoy telling my story because I think it tells a lot about me, and how much I have overcome and how much this one situation has opened my eyes and mind to the world I never realized before.
I believe finding out your pregnant is an unexplainable emotion, no matter how old you are, or whether or not you expect it. It could go both ways, either excited or scared. For me, it was a million feelings at once. I had my voice in my head, although it seemed like it was a billion of voices all coming from me. I walked home that late afternoon, I couldn’t find the way to tell the father of my child because I knew in my gut that we would be over. I dated him for almost a year on and off, and although we knew the possibility and he said he would be there, I knew I wouldn’t be able to count on him. So I told him, and as I predicted, we split up very soon after and he began a completely different lifestyle. His parents didn’t even find out until I was about 3 or 4 months pregnant, and that was because his sister told them.
My lifestyle didn’t change little by little, it all came at once. I was in my 2nd year on the Varsity cheer squad at my high school, which I had to immediately get out for my baby's and my own health. I also was taken out of “regular school” and put into a class with other pregnant teens. When I moved to Fresno, I was 7 months pregnant. I was suppose to start my junior year. I was too afraid of what people would think of me, even though I knew I wasn’t the only pregnant teen around, but I decided to get homeschooled. I also figured that I would spend time with my newborn when she came. She was born little time after my family and I finally found a house. She was born on September 7, 2007.
I will admit through time it began getting easier not worrying about her biological dad, because I was distant from him and kept my focus on Miah, although I had still hoped he would change and we could be a “family.” From the time she’s been born to present time, he has seen her a minimum of 5 times. Most times he expects us to go down to him so he can spend time with his child. I admit I believe I was a stupid girl for doing what he wanted me to do. Especially since I knew I had more power than I thought I did, and that’s something a lot of teen moms don’t realize.
My daughter is now 21 months old, without her biological father in her life. He has been out of contact since the very beginning of the year, Although it would be great for her to have her biological dad in her life, she doesn’t and he blames me for that, but I’ve decided to leave the option open for him and her to have a relationship when either one decides to. And I gave up the “family” image for us long, long ago. I know it works for a lot of people, but I've learned not to base what my life should look like off the lives of others and just stick with what I got and work to make it even better!
Despite all the struggles, I am very satisfied with the way things are now. I have been there through all my daughters steps of development (nothing is more fun than watching your kids learn and grow). I just very recently graduated high school! The goal I have worked so hard towards, and couldn’t have made it through without the motivation for getting my daughter a better life and support of my loved ones. Every mom, no matter what age, can be a good mom; I do believe though that having a child and providing all the love and care for that child is what makes ANYONE a mother or even father.
By: Jasmine De La Trinidad |
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