Yes! I am a Latina. Yes, I am 16 years old. And yes I am NOT pregnant! I am aware of all the stereotypes and all the criticism people say about Latinos, and that brings me to my first reason.  I know I won’t be a teen mom because I want to prove people wrong. Hearing all those judgments and being looked down upon is my motivation. I want to prove I can be somebody, because I believe that we can get out of this situation. We are strong people.  

My second reason is my personal experience. As a daughter of teen parents I have seen my parents struggle. I have felt it, and I still see them struggling financially because it was hard for them to continue going to school while taking care of me and my older brother. So, experiencing this makes me 100% sure that I will not be a teen parent.

 My third reason is all about me. I have so many dreams I have to accomplish. I say I “have to” because I have high expectations for myself and the desire to educate myself. I want to go to college, get a Master’s degree in architecture, major in interior design, travel around, help kids who need guidance, and help my community. The way I picture it is, if I can accomplish my dreams then I can inspire others who have been through worse or something similar to what I have been through.

My fourth reason revolves around my families, my dads’ and my moms’. My dad’s family is full of college graduates. My mom’s family is full of high school graduates but not any college. To be honest, I have been judged by own family; they have already set my future for me. “I am going to be the girl who never graduates from high school and has a baby just like her mom.” But, I see this as an opportunity to continue fighting; fighting for myself, fighting for the rights I have to dream big and be different. I don’t see my mom as a bad influence…I see her as my reason to keep going. She is the reason why I am willing to make extra effort to achieve and become the strong independent woman I want to be. My dad, he’s the one who made me open my eyes and realize how powerful I can be. I want to be the first woman to graduate from college on my mom’s side of the family and I want my success to encourage them to go too. As for my dad’s side I want to prove them wrong.  

My fifth reason is Moises and Angelica, my little brother and sister. If for some crazy reason I don’t accomplish everything I have to accomplish, the one thing I want the most is for Moises and Angelica to be able to come to me for guidance. I have a duty as an older sister to be the best example I can be.

These are my reasons for not being a teen parent. What are yours?

Melody is 16 and from Washington, DC. She is a member of The National Campaign’s Youth Leadership Team. Have a question for Melody? Email us!