My Story: From Teenage Mom to Ph.D.

I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. As a kid, I was fascinated by classmates that would assuredly say, “I’m going to be an attorney, doctor, firefighter” or whatever their heart was set on.

I remember feeling envious and telling myself, “I wish I knew what I really wanted to be!”

Now that I’m reflecting on those moments from my childhood, I wish I would have known that the universe had a plan for my life.

It was during one of the most difficult times in my life when my life’s purpose became clear.

In the 11th grade, I went from confidently considering colleges to finding out that I was pregnant. I instantly felt confused and terrified.

You see, teen moms aren’t supposed to graduate from high school and in 1997 I knew that if high school was a reach, then pursuing college was equal to shooting for the moon.

Well, this is when a fire was lit in me to prove the statistics and the naysayers wrong.

My determination coupled with divine guidance eventually led me to not only obtain my bachelors, but then eventually my Masters from Columbia University and my PhD from Seton Hall University.

Have you ever been counted out because you made a “mistake”? Have you ever felt defeated and lost hope? If your answer is “yes”, you’ve found the right website.