Imagine being seventeen a senior in high school, co-captain on the cheerleading squad, starter, and all district player on both the basketball and volleyball teams. When I was in high school, I had the same goals and expectations as most of my peers. Go to college, get a degree, get a good job, eventually get married, and start a family. I never dreamed that I would be starting a family at seventeen.

I could only think of one other girl that got pregnant in high school and everyone made her life a living hell. I was not going to go through that. So, I made the only logical decision I could think of at the time. I would have an abortion. Seems easy, right? A few phone calls were made and the appointment was set up. Of course, I discussed this decision with the “sperm donor”. He was against the idea but said he would support me in whatever decisi

During my fifth month of pregnancy I had some complications and my doctor ordered complete bed rest. The doctor was concerned that I might be at a high risk for miscarriage. This condition kept causing me to go into labor early. On April 28th, 1994, the contractions could not be stopped and twenty two hours later, and still six weeks early, Zachary was born. I got to hold him for only a second before they rushed him out of the room. The doctors were concerned that his lungs were not fully developed. Two hours after I delivered him, I lay in my room concerned and not knowing what was going to happen to my new baby. The nurse finally brought him to me and put him in my arms. I took one look at him and knew right away that the life I thought was over had really only just begun.

One day during class, I was told that I was needed in the superintendents office. I was told that I had been selected and chosen by the student body for the “Who’s Who Award”. This is an award given to a female and male high school senior in various categories, chosen, and voted on by the student body. I was awarded Best All Around student. I was then asked by school officials before they made the

Some topics in this essay:
, “honey broke”, student body,