You are a teenager and you are pregnant. And now that?
You probably have more questions than answers at this point. Well, I have good news for you! There are many programs available to help you be successful. Having a baby earlier than expected does not mean that your life is over. Now you just have to discover something different to experience it. You can still finish high school and go to college … yes, even if you plan to stay with your baby.
You may qualify for government grants, scholarships, and financial aid programs that are specifically designed to help girls in your situation. You may also qualify for state-funded health care for you and your baby, food stamps, child care assistance, and WIC programs that help you get the food and formula you need while you are pregnant and the baby needs. after birth. The goal of these programs is for you to use them to get to a place where you can lead a happy and successful life. You do NOT need to find ways to stay with government assistance. However, these programs do exist and you should take advantage of them if you qualify.
I had my first child 2 months after graduating from high school. I didn’t even go to my graduation because I was starting to show and I was too embarrassed. When my mother told the school counselor that I was pregnant, they tried to force me to go to school for children with disciplinary problems. There was no way he would have survived that! I was about to drop out of high school. None of my friends knew I was pregnant, so I had no support and no one to give me advice. I finally decided that I would continue high school and graduated with a 3.85 GPA. I thought there was no chance that I could go to college. My beautiful girl was born in July and I went back to work in September, working full time for minimum wage. I didn’t see a future for us.
If only I knew then what I know now! About 4 years ago I decided that I would go to college. I started to look into the federal grants and programs that were available. What I discovered made me sick! I could have gone to college for absolutely free, right after high school! In fact, the TOPS program would have paid for my books and I would have extra money left over to live on. That is even before the Pell Grant and other financial aid. Would have qualified for housing, food stamps, child care assistance, etc. If only someone had told me what was available. I admit, it would have been a bit embarrassing to live off government aid for a while, but would the results be long-term? After 4 years, I would have graduated from college and could earn a decent income for myself and my family. Instead, I struggled to survive for 12 years before finding out.
I know this sounds cliché, but STAY IN SCHOOL! … and go to college, technical school, or take some kind of professional training program. Don’t wait like I did. You want to raise your precious son or daughter as well or better than you were raised, right? Find out how to do what you want to do, get help from a counselor at school, church, or a Pregnancy Crisis Centerand find out what kind of help is available to you.