Teenage Mothers: Education at a loss

  Teenage pregnancy is a struggle many people have to confront whether it is in their family or in their school. Having to face the reality of teenagers not using protection when having sexual intercourse, can be a true eye opener to others. Parents and teachers need to be the main educators for teenage girls and boys about the practice of safe sex and the consequences of not using protection, but teenage pregnancy has grown in the schools lacking sex education classes. By not providing these means of education to girls, as well as boys, commit the same mistake by not using protection.

            I, myself, have seen this in my own family on my mothers’ side. My cousin, who is now 23, has two children of her own-one of which she gave birth to when she was seventeen. Her strict family was disappointed in her and felt remorse towards having the child. As she grew, they gave her financial as well as emotional help to make sure she and her son were taken care of. While interviewing her, she had to reflect on how her life was like by not completing high school or entering college. As she thought of these things, she was content for the fact that she now has a loving family that accepts her and forgives her for her past mistakes.

            Many young teenage girls might have gone through what my cousin had to face in order for them to be forgiven by their family and accepted for what they have done. Although my cousin did not go to college because of her son, many young women do get back on their feet and finish their education with the help of their family or with the help of the government. Those who do not attend college or even finish high school do not get their full education meaning they have less of an opportunity to get a better career. Teenage mothers are often pressured to leave their education and care for their child which in return makes the mother seek out help by herself.

In the point of view from the mother of the teenager, their emotions are quite different. Interviewing my cousins’ mother, she had mixed feelings towards her daughter having a child at such a young age. She felt upset that her daughter had unprotected sex but was relieved she did not abort him. This is typical with the mothers of teenage women where they feel upset and anger towards their daughter dropping out of high school and having unprotected sex. Mothers agree it is because of the lack of sexual educational classes they offer to them. If they were to be more educated about using protection, then there would be a less chance of tem to drop out of high school.

To the teenage mothers who do stay even though they have a child, it is possible for them to get a higher education and reach their goals. There are schools which can help them finish their education not many mothers know about because of the lack of resources. Schools such as Silver Springs High School, here in California, is an alternative high school for pregnant and parenting teens, the aesthetic is the same as a typical high school but has others who share the same experience of being or becoming a mother. It allows them to finish high school with full credit and go on into college for further education. Schools like this help the drop out rate stay low while giving them a chance to enter a college. It also encourages them to stay on task and finish high school even though they have a child.

Stephanie Cortes