Vanessa's Story |
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In her sophomore year of high school, Vanessa was 30 credits behind and unlikely to graduate high school on time. Her struggles escalated when she learned she was pregnant. She was told she, “wouldn’t get anywhere” in her life. Vanessa worked hard to overcome the odds and pursue her education to create more opportunities for her young family’s future. She enrolled in Teen Success, Inc. where she was given educational and parenting support and graduated from high school a semester early. In the spring of 2017, Vanessa was selected as a Teen Success, Inc. College Scholarship recipient.
Vanessa is driven by wanting to provide for her son, Xavier, and her intense desire to learn and make something of her life. Her main goal when she began the Teen Success, Inc. program, was to graduate high school before her son was born. Vanessa took extra courses during the year and electives during the summer to make sure she had the credits she needed to graduate before Xavier was born.
Vanessa is an introvert by nature, but her Teen Success, Inc. Advocate saw her internal transformation during their one-on-one coaching sessions. Slowly, with her confidence growing at school and in peer learning sessions, Vanessa began to take control and drive the topics she talked about during her one-on-one with her Advocate. Independent and focused on her education, Vanessa successfully graduated before the birth of her son, a full semester early.
Vanessa’s scholastic and personal successes have continued past her high school graduation. She is a 2017 recipient of the Teen Success, Inc. College Scholarship and is beginning her nursing studies at Evergreen City College. She applied for the scholarship to help her pay for tuition, books, and day care while she attended classes. Vanessa plans on becoming a Registered Nurse while supporting her son, “with his work, going to his school events, [and] being there to listen to him.” Her resiliency is tremendous. Vanessa notes, “after being discouraged that I won’t get anywhere…I’m looking forward to this great opportunity Teen Success, Inc. has provided for me to be able to go to college. I know where I want to go and I’m going to make it.”
Vanessa is driven by wanting to provide for her son, Xavier, and her intense desire to learn and make something of her life. Her main goal when she began the Teen Success, Inc. program, was to graduate high school before her son was born. Vanessa took extra courses during the year and electives during the summer to make sure she had the credits she needed to graduate before Xavier was born.
Vanessa is an introvert by nature, but her Teen Success, Inc. Advocate saw her internal transformation during their one-on-one coaching sessions. Slowly, with her confidence growing at school and in peer learning sessions, Vanessa began to take control and drive the topics she talked about during her one-on-one with her Advocate. Independent and focused on her education, Vanessa successfully graduated before the birth of her son, a full semester early.
Vanessa’s scholastic and personal successes have continued past her high school graduation. She is a 2017 recipient of the Teen Success, Inc. College Scholarship and is beginning her nursing studies at Evergreen City College. She applied for the scholarship to help her pay for tuition, books, and day care while she attended classes. Vanessa plans on becoming a Registered Nurse while supporting her son, “with his work, going to his school events, [and] being there to listen to him.” Her resiliency is tremendous. Vanessa notes, “after being discouraged that I won’t get anywhere…I’m looking forward to this great opportunity Teen Success, Inc. has provided for me to be able to go to college. I know where I want to go and I’m going to make it.”
