Ellington

I hope that people aren't getting tired of hearing the familiar stories about teenage mothers and their struggles. Statistics show that teenage pregnancy in America is higher than in any other developed nation. And while the overall rate has declined since 1990, African American females have a higher rate than other ethnic groups. As I was searching the Web for some "inspiration," I found this story helpful.

There are many differences between Alysson (the girl from the link) and myself. My child's father is a high school graduate. Although he isn't in college, he is making a decent living and saving for the arrival of our baby. He is taking a backseat to my life so that I can work on achieving my goals. It is important to have people in my life who are willing to make sacrifices for me (as well as support the sacifices that I will have to make for my child). Although our situations are somewhat different, I am glad to see that I am not the only one trying to defy odds. I was impressed by the success story, and I hope that I can have the same kind of perseverance. There is a need for awareness, prevention and dialogue so that we can get a hold on this epidemic.

Previous Comments

ID

112837

Comment

I think the Cathy Lanier story is inspirational also. Glad to see you're doing well, Melishia. Hang in there.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-16T07:20:31-06:00