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Perseverance pays off for young mom; returns to graduate
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| Goal achieved: Desiree Taylor overcame obstacles to graduate from high school. She was valedictorian. (Photo courtesy Desiree Taylor.) |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Being a parent and managing a career and a household successfully is tough enough for an adult. Trying to do all of those things as a teenager in high school can seem impossible.
Just over three years ago, Desiree Taylor got pregnant. At 17, Taylor, of Mescal, said it was tough to think that in nine months a child was coming, but she thought she could finish school and make it all work.
During her senior year at Benson High School, she was juggling school, her daughter Delilah and work and she was starting to break down mentally.
"I just got to a point where I couldn't take care of my child, go to work and go to school," she said. "I was a mess. I was so depressed, I got sick. I was waking up and hurrying to school, coming home to change and go to work. I wasn't even seeing my daughter."
At one point it got to be too much and she quit high school. Dropping out was a tough decision, but Taylor, now 21, said she felt like she had no other choice. She worked locally full time for the next two years.
In that time, Taylor also gave birth to Logan, now just over 1 year old.
Taylor said she was also determined to get a GED and tried taking the classes offered at the Cochise College Benson Center.
"That program wasn't for me," Taylor said. "I wanted a real high school diploma."
Taylor said it was important to get the diploma, saying she truly finished high school, because so many in her family hadn't. Neither of her parents had diplomas. Her older brother was the only one in the family who had finished high school.
Eventually, Taylor came across an alternative program offered in the Benson School District. She started attending class at San Pedro Valley High School, which caters to students who may not function in a normal public school setting or cannot attend school full time.
Angela Carreira, principal of the school, said Taylor came to her over the summer needing only seven credits to graduate, but wanting to graduate by December.
"Let me put this into perspective," Carreira said. "Most of our students earn between six and seven credits per school year here at the San Pedro Valley High School. She had seven credits left to earn and not every student can even earn that many credits in one full school year. I explained that to her, yet she sat there telling me she wanted to finish by December. I told her that was fine, and that I would not stop her from trying to reach her goal."
Taylor said her mom Shirley was an inspiration to her. Her mom got a GED, a process she went through having three children. Shirley, obviously proud mother, laughed, saying she told Taylor that if she got her GED with three kids at home, Taylor could get her high school diploma with two.
Taylor said the process wasn't easy, but having her mom available to take care of her two children and keep her going was a big part of the process.
Taylor reached her goal by December and obtained the seven credits she needed to graduate. She wore the cap and gown and accepted her diploma. She was named the valedictorian of her class.
"San Pedro High School was great to me," Taylor said. "It gave me the opportunity to finish in a short amount of time and at my own pace. I am glad I did it because I didn't want to become another parent that couldn't get a diploma because I ruined my life by having kids. I didn't want people to make that assumption. I want to be able to tell my kids that I had obstacles, but I did it."
Carreira said Taylor should be proud of her accomplishments. When Taylor told her she wanted to earn seven credits in one semester, the principal didn't think it was possible. Now, Carreira said she is glad to be proven wrong.
Taylor said she will be moving to Alaska in June where her husband, who is currently serving in Iraq in the Army, will be stationed. Taylor plans to attend college there, majoring in juvenile probation.
Taylor said being a teenage mom is tough, but noted in life everything a person does comes with sacrifice and struggle. She said she is proud that she stuck with her goals and earned a high school diploma to help her in her future endeavors.
Being a parent and managing a career and a household successfully is tough enough for an adult. Trying to do all of those things as a teenager in high school can seem impossible.
Just over three years ago, Desiree Taylor got pregnant. At 17, Taylor, of Mescal, said it was tough to think that in nine months a child was coming, but she thought she could finish school and make it all work.
During her senior year at Benson High School, she was juggling school, her daughter Delilah and work and she was starting to break down mentally.
"I just got to a point where I couldn't take care of my child, go to work and go to school," she said. "I was a mess. I was so depressed, I got sick. I was waking up and hurrying to school, coming home to change and go to work. I wasn't even seeing my daughter."
At one point it got to be too much and she quit high school. Dropping out was a tough decision, but Taylor, now 21, said she felt like she had no other choice. She worked locally full time for the next two years.
In that time, Taylor also gave birth to Logan, now just over 1 year old.
Taylor said she was also determined to get a GED and tried taking the classes offered at the Cochise College Benson Center.
"That program wasn't for me," Taylor said. "I wanted a real high school diploma."
Taylor said it was important to get the diploma, saying she truly finished high school, because so many in her family hadn't. Neither of her parents had diplomas. Her older brother was the only one in the family who had finished high school.
Eventually, Taylor came across an alternative program offered in the Benson School District. She started attending class at San Pedro Valley High School, which caters to students who may not function in a normal public school setting or cannot attend school full time.
Angela Carreira, principal of the school, said Taylor came to her over the summer needing only seven credits to graduate, but wanting to graduate by December.
"Let me put this into perspective," Carreira said. "Most of our students earn between six and seven credits per school year here at the San Pedro Valley High School. She had seven credits left to earn and not every student can even earn that many credits in one full school year. I explained that to her, yet she sat there telling me she wanted to finish by December. I told her that was fine, and that I would not stop her from trying to reach her goal."
Taylor said her mom Shirley was an inspiration to her. Her mom got a GED, a process she went through having three children. Shirley, obviously proud mother, laughed, saying she told Taylor that if she got her GED with three kids at home, Taylor could get her high school diploma with two.
Taylor said the process wasn't easy, but having her mom available to take care of her two children and keep her going was a big part of the process.
Taylor reached her goal by December and obtained the seven credits she needed to graduate. She wore the cap and gown and accepted her diploma. She was named the valedictorian of her class.
"San Pedro High School was great to me," Taylor said. "It gave me the opportunity to finish in a short amount of time and at my own pace. I am glad I did it because I didn't want to become another parent that couldn't get a diploma because I ruined my life by having kids. I didn't want people to make that assumption. I want to be able to tell my kids that I had obstacles, but I did it."
Carreira said Taylor should be proud of her accomplishments. When Taylor told her she wanted to earn seven credits in one semester, the principal didn't think it was possible. Now, Carreira said she is glad to be proven wrong.
Taylor said she will be moving to Alaska in June where her husband, who is currently serving in Iraq in the Army, will be stationed. Taylor plans to attend college there, majoring in juvenile probation.
Taylor said being a teenage mom is tough, but noted in life everything a person does comes with sacrifice and struggle. She said she is proud that she stuck with her goals and earned a high school diploma to help her in her future endeavors.
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Janet wrote on Jan 16, 2009 3:14 PM: