Reprint from the Progress Times - October 17, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Leaving Life's Womb Early
Pregnant teen finds success at Roosevelt Alternative School

By Mary Nichols

There is a specific test that most teenagers don’t study for. It’s a test that’s usually rushed and sometimes the directions are miscommunicated. It’s a test that can’t be re-taken or undone, and it’s a test that most young girls take alone.

The pregnancy test reads a plus sign if the girl is pregnant, minus sign if she’s not, and a question mark for a teen’s undetermined future.

Kristine Olivarez, 19 (name changed to remain anonymous) took this test at age 16. The test was positive and she become one of the many teens in the country to get pregnant and forced to mature far more quickly than her peers. However, with the help of the Teenage Parenting Assistance Program (TPAP) offered at Roosevelt Alternative School in Mission, Olivarez was given the opportunity to still have a successful future.

“I’m very thankful for the program. If MCISD didn’t have that program, I don’t know what I would of done. It was a life saver,” said Olivarez. “I appreciate it. It showed me it’s not the end of the world. Life is just going to be harder, but you can still get an education.”

Starting Support

TPAP, started in 1992, serves all the schools in the district. It offers teen parents with pregnancy-related services to reduce school dropouts and increase high school graduation rates. Services provided include continuing education, health services, counseling, and instruction in child development, parenting, home, and family living. The program also offers career counseling, transportation for children and students, and prenatal and postpartum health nutrition programs. 

Elizabeth Lopez, director of the program for 15 years, says gives students who want to continue their education that chance.

“We try to accommodate every student so that they don’t miss out on anything,” she said. “The majority of students want to stay in school. It’s not only about saving the student, but the future of the child they are going to have.”

The program, however, is offered only if the student decides to utilize it. Those who choose not to, because it’s their senior year and want to spend it with their friends, still receive the services from afar. Lopez says it is recommended for safety reasons so that students do not have to walk around campus, or run the risk of injury through crowded halls.

“Many think we are promoting pregnancy. They say ‘you give them all this, you make it easy for them.’ It’s not the case. I wish I had the numbers to show how many success stories we’ve had,” said Lopez. “We have graduated teachers, social workers, homeland security workers and EMS workers. We just offer an alternative for a continuing education and a successful future.”

Olivarez was not even aware of the program, until she became pregnant and was approached. She was hesitant at first, but at seven and-a-half months it became more difficult for her and she transferred with TPAP to Roosevelt for about three months.

“It was a big help. We had shorter hours, smaller classrooms and they really prepared me for motherhood,” she said. “They adjusted to my needs, to how I was feeling, and my schedule for doctor’s appointments.”

Growing Up

Before Kristine was worrying about doctor’s appointments, juggling food cravings and mood swings; she was just like any other typical high school student. She was on the varsity volleyball team and competed in track and field. She had many friends, a supportive family, and well-liked by her teachers

“It was crazy at first. Rumors were going around school that I was pregnant. It was a shock to my coaches and friends,” she said. “I felt insecure and embarrassed for my family. I used to see other girls like that, and say ‘oh my God.’ But, then it happened to me.”

Kristine says that nothing in particular pressured her into having sex. She had been with her boyfriend for a year, and they just felt comfortable with each other and decided to take the next step. Her parents were very upset. She says her mother suspected she was sexually active, but she would deny it when she was asked.

“I regret not telling my mother, she could have helped me prevent it,” she said shaking her head. “My father told me ‘How could you do this? You ruined your life; you ruined everything.’ There was really nothing we could do, especially since we weren’t pro-abortion.”

Kristine, who is one of four daughters, said she really thought life was over and she felt very guilty. However, her parents, after accepting the pregnancy, told her she needed to keep going to school.

“They told me I just had to work through it,” she said.  “That my life was going to be harder now, but to not quit, because I still had to further myself.  We were going to work together.”

Pushing Forward

Kristine was almost 18 when she had her now one-year-old baby girl. She was in labor for 14 hours and says she wasn’t scared. She just wanted the process to be over with.Life was going to be hard. This became reality, she says, when the baby was born.

“I thought this is the beginning. It’s permanent and it’s going to be a lot of work,” she said. “It’s true when they say ’you will never sleep the same again.’ You really never will.”

Kristine, who is petite in size, graduated in 2007, and decided to continue her education and set goals for her and her daughter.  She is now in her second year of college, and has aspirations to be a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and a nurse practitioner. She rents her own two-bedroom apartment, where voices echo because of the large space still available. Her apartment is filled with the essentials of a sofa, baby high chair, kitchen appliances and a television.

“I sacrifice a lot. I don’t go shopping all the time. I can’t spend money like people my age who work and spend it on pleasures,” she said with maturity in her voice. “I have to work and spend it on groceries and clothes for the baby. I don’t get to do a lot. I’m a mother now, single and I have payments.”

 Responsibility and commitment have forced Olivarez to mature into an adult for the sake of her child and herself. Being a single parent also puts extra pressure on her to play both roles of father and mother.  Though only 19, her mentality is that of peers twice her age, and the age group she prefers to associate with.

“I’m a very mature person. I don’t talk to anyone from high school anymore because they have different priorities,” she said. “Their mentalities are different than mine, they want to party and I can’t. Being a mother matures. You a lot, you have to. I’ve grown up a lot.”

Kristine works at a department store, until she lands a job at one of the hospitals, to gain more experience for her major. While working, or at school she leaves her daughter at daycare, or at times with relatives. She admits times get tough and she gets to the point, where she just wants to quit.

“It’s very tough, and it will take a toll,” she said adjusting her hair. “You will say, ‘I can’t do this, I’m done.’ But you have people, like at TPAP, who support you and help you keep going.”

Importance of Education

What drives Kristine to keep going is her desire for an education, which both her parents and mentors of the TPAP program helped instill in her. She felt that teachers, like Iris Hines and the director of the program, Elizabeth Lopez, were the mentors she needed. Their passion for wanting teens to succeed is what she thinks helps enforce the importance of having an education.

“Life is going to be so much better and easier if you’re educated. Making minimum wage isn’t going to cut it,” she said. “Life will be less stressful, and you will have the ability to give your child whatever they need. You don’t want your child to grow up being embarrassed for who they are.”

Kristine says when she had her baby and was confined to her home, the TPAP program would go to her house twice a week, take her homework, her school books, and give her a small lecture. Without that, she says, she would have fallen behind.

“I’m going to enforce the importance of education on my daughter,” she said.  “I’ve done it all. I’ve said all the lies and done all the tricks. School with be a priority because I don’t want her to end up like me. You always want better for your kids.”

Regrets and Advice

Though Kristine loves her child unconditionally and hopes to give her a better life, she does admit that at times she regrets getting pregnant.

“If I hadn’t gotten pregnant so much would be lifted off of me,” she said sighing. “School would be easier, I would have more time to study and act my age. So to all the young adults that don’t have kids, take advantage of what you have.”

The topic of sex, Kristine says was lightly discussed in school, as far as being abstinent or using protection. She feels, however, that if teens have their mind set on having sex, they will follow through. The best thing parents could do is just openly discuss it with their children.

“Parents should talk with teens about sex. Talk to them about the consequences that can happen, and give them the knowledge they need to protect themselves,” she said.

If they do get pregnant, Kristine feels parents shouldn’t abandon their teens, but support them, and help them realize they can still have a future.

“It’s very devastating to know your child is going to have a child. I can only imagine how I would react with my own daughter, but, it doesn’t mean that your child can’t still go to school and follow their dreams. It’s just going to be a [more winding] road.”

Out of the Womb

Though Kristin took a winding path for her future, she is one of the many students that a program like TPAP has helped save. They provided Kristin with the skills and knowledge to enable her to face the obstacles of being a teenage parent.

Kristin realizes anything is possible, thanks to TPAP, and hopes to graduate from college and eventually own her own house.

“If there is anything I can share it’s, don’t get pregnant, it’s not a good thing. If you do, you can still finish school, you can still have a successful future.”