High school is often said to be the best four years of one's life. However, today's teens carry many responsibilities from late night studying to weekly sports practices. And for some students on campus maturity comes early, balancing a busy lifestyle while tending to bigger obligations like a child.
Alyssa Anguino was only sixteen when she and her boyfriend, Anthony Martin Del Campo, discovered that they were having a baby. Both students agreed that the pregnancy was unexpected, but with immense support from both their families they were able to endure this life changing experience. Even a few months after their daughter, Toni Marie Martin Del Campo, was born, Anthony found it hard to believe.
"It's crazy cause we're so young," Anthony expressed.
Alyssa explained, "At first it was hard and overwhelming, but once you get into your routine, you know what cries mean what".
Both Alyssa and Anthony are on Independent Study but often only find time to do their homework while their daughter is sleeping. Aside from schoolwork, Anthony holds a job at his father's local business and with all his responsibilities, has learned that "you have to put yourself second; everything affects the child." The maturity obtained through parenthood is sure to carry into their college years where Anthony plans to major in Business and Alyssa plans to study massage therapy.
Seventeen-year-old Tiffany Taino balances schoolwork and her daughter, Adelah Maree Taino, by promptly finishing her homework before each school day ends. As a teenage single mom, Tiffany relies substantially on her family's support. Her will to provide for her daughter, while striving to achieve her own goals, is not easy. Tiffany makes it a point to keep up with her academic priorities and plans to start college in winter 2008 when her daughter turns one year old. Before getting into the routine of being a new mom, Tiffany stated "It was so new for the first few weeks... It was very different being called 'Mommy' from other people, but now that there is a routine I truly feel like a mom."
Despite the surface struggles of being a young single mother, Tiffany conveyed that this was her prime motivation and a reason to strive for her goals. Tifanny stated, "Her father's completely out of our life, but that pushes me and gives me even more motivation to do what's good for the both of us. It will be hard, but I know I can do it."
These student parents surrender a part of their lives in order to provide for another, and with the vast responsibility they carry, they learn a most important life lessons, self-sacrifice.
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