Watch: 17 teen mothers beat the odds, graduate from high school

1 year ago 44

IT’S IT’S CRAZY HOW THEY SAY YOU WOULD NEVER MAKE THESE 17 LADIES IN PINK CAPS AND GOWNS ARE STUDENTS, MOTHERS AND NOW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FROM THE GEORGIA CHAFFEE TAPP SCHOOL. IT’S JUST REALLY EMOTIONAL BECAUSE WE’RE WE’RE DONE. WE DID IT. WE GOT TO DO IT WITH BABIES AS THEY WALK ACROSS THE STAGE TO ACCEPT THEIR DIPLOMA, THEY ARE WALKING INTO THEIR DESTINY. THE YOUNGEST GRADUATE, 16 YEAR OLD CLAUDIA AGUILAR. VENEGAS, A MOTHER OF TWO, REFLECTS ON THE JOURNEY WHERE SHE DID NOT THINK THIS MOMENT WAS ATTAINABLE. I, LIKE, DOUBTED MYSELF KNOWING THAT I MIGHT NOT MAKE IT. MAINTAINING MOTHERHOOD WHILE STILL VALUING THEIR EDUCATION IS NO EASY TASK, ESPECIALLY WAKING UP AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING EVERY MORNING. I HAVE TO GET MYSELF READY TO MY BABY AND GET ON THE BUS BY A CERTAIN TIME. BUT WITH DETERMINATION. 18 YEAR OLD RONNELL SMITH PERSEVERED. I ALWAYS KNOW I CAN DO IT. I WILL FINISH SCHOOL KNOWING SHE HAD A LITTLE ONE LOOKING TO HER AS THE EXAMPLE. I KNOW SHE’S PROUD OF ME. I WISH SHE WAS HERE WITH ME TODAY. BEFORE THE YOUNG MOTHERS GO ON TO COLLEGE, MANY WITH SCHOLARSHIPS, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FILLED THE SEATS AT NORTHEAST CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENT. I LOVE YOU, BABY. YOU DID IT AS THEY MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE TOGETHER, WE ALL WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING AND LIKE, IT’S JUST GOOD TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE THAT YOU CAN RELATE TO THAT GETS YOU. THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO KEEP GOING. WE ALL GET IN A GROUP AND JUST HELP EACH OTHER OUT. THAT SISTERLY BOND WAS FELT AS THE GRADS HELPED EACH OTHER, SWAP OUT THEIR CAPS FOR CROWNS AND WERE REMINDED BY TABB SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DARLENE ALEXANDER THAT THEY ARE QUEENS AND THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THEIR POTENTIAL. I AM BEAUTIFUL. I AM SINGING. I AM SAYING I AM A MOMMY. I AM A STRIVING FOR MY DREAMS. RIGHT FR

Young mothers from the Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program in Louisville, Kentucky, reached an educational milestone on Thursday by graduating high school.The program is designed to prevent school dropouts due to teen pregnancy and parenting.As the 17 ladies walked across the stage to accept their diplomas in pink caps and gowns, they also walked into their destiny. The youngest graduate, Claudia Aguilar Vanegas, 16, is a mother of two. She reflected on a journey where she did not think this moment was attainable.“I doubted myself knowing that I might not make it,” Vanegas said. “Going home doing tests and finals, it was way too much on my hands, and there's no alone time for myself.”Maintaining motherhood while still valuing their education is no easy task.“Especially waking up at 5 o'clock in the morning, every morning. I have to get myself ready and my baby, get on the bus by a certain time,” said Ronyale Smith, one of the program's graduates. But with determination, Smith, 18, persevered, knowing she had a little one looking to her as an example.“I always knew I could do it, I will finish school,” she said. “I know she's proud of me and I wish she was here with me today.”Before the young mothers go on to college, many with scholarships, family, friends, and school officials were present to celebrate their achievement and make it to the finish line, together.“They encourage me to keep going, we all will get in a group and just help each other out,” said Vanegas.That sisterly bond was felt as the grads helped each other swap out their caps for crowns. As they repeated affirmations read by the program's principal, Dr. Delena Alexander, they were reminded that they are queens and there is no limit to their potential“I am beautiful, I am seen, I am a mommy striving for my dream,” the graduates said. “The queen is here, watch me rise.”The graduates will attend local colleges and several plan to pursue nursing.

Young mothers from the Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program in Louisville, Kentucky, reached an educational milestone on Thursday by graduating high school.

The program is designed to prevent school dropouts due to teen pregnancy and parenting.

As the 17 ladies walked across the stage to accept their diplomas in pink caps and gowns, they also walked into their destiny.

The youngest graduate, Claudia Aguilar Vanegas, 16, is a mother of two. She reflected on a journey where she did not think this moment was attainable.

“I doubted myself knowing that I might not make it,” Vanegas said. “Going home doing tests and finals, it was way too much on my hands, and there's no alone time for myself.”

Maintaining motherhood while still valuing their education is no easy task.

“Especially waking up at 5 o'clock in the morning, every morning. I have to get myself ready and my baby, get on the bus by a certain time,” said Ronyale Smith, one of the program's graduates.

But with determination, Smith, 18, persevered, knowing she had a little one looking to her as an example.

“I always knew I could do it, I will finish school,” she said. “I know she's proud of me and I wish she was here with me today.”

Before the young mothers go on to college, many with scholarships, family, friends, and school officials were present to celebrate their achievement and make it to the finish line, together.

“They encourage me to keep going, we all will get in a group and just help each other out,” said Vanegas.

That sisterly bond was felt as the grads helped each other swap out their caps for crowns.

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Graduation crowns

As they repeated affirmations read by the program's principal, Dr. Delena Alexander, they were reminded that they are queens and there is no limit to their potential

“I am beautiful, I am seen, I am a mommy striving for my dream,” the graduates said. “The queen is here, watch me rise.”

The graduates will attend local colleges and several plan to pursue nursing.

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