I was only sixteen when I had my first and only son. It was really hard to continue with life without major change. I hadn't even graduated from highschool yet. I continued my education and took care of my son. After a year of his birth I graduated from highschool. Continuing with a college education at the time was a major challenge for me, but I took the challenge and now I am glad and proud for having made the right decision- a decision that could give me and my son a better future.

Being a single mom became a huge responsibility. I had to work and take care of my son, but I also wanted to go to college that way I could some time have a better job. I found a good daycare to send my son and was able to pay for it by working at a convenience store full time.

And for a couple of years I have been working and taking care of my son, making sure to always provide him with all the basic needs and if possible more than that. His education became very important for me because by this time I had come to the conclusion that I would not get anywhere without my education. Now I am a substitute because I was able to take a subtituting course.

The biggest accomplishment in my life has been to stay up, always looking forward knowing that there will be a better tommorrow. I have fallen, and that I will not deny it, but I have managed to get up and continue.

Learn more about this author, Mariela Rios.
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