AMERICA | 18-year-old girl who gave birth in junior school emerges best-graduating student, becomes the first graduate in her family.
An 18-year-old teen mom, Maite Reyes De La Cruz, defied the odds by graduating as valedictorian from Southwest Middle High School with a remarkable GPA of 4.20.
Her inspiring journey not only made her the top student in her class but also the first person in her family to ever earn a high school diploma.
Maite gave birth to her daughter, Telmy, while still in junior high school, a life-altering event that brought with it immense challenges. After her daughter’s birth, she admitted that she considered not returning to school, fearing judgment from her peers.
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“I wanted to stay online or not go back to school, because I was scared of, you know, how people talk and rumors and all of that,” she said.
However, with the unwavering support of her mother, Maite decided to continue her education. She pushed herself to succeed, determined to create a better future for her daughter.
“I want to become something in life, so she doesn’t have to worry about nothing. It wasn’t something that I planned, to be a teen mom. But even though things happen, I was able to graduate and not leave school,” she said.
Maite credits her parents, immigrants from Guatemala, for their sacrifices in providing her with opportunities they never had. She said her parents came to the United States to provide a better life for them adding that their sacrifice would allow her to start a career unlike them.
“My parents only got the opportunity to finish sixth grade, and that was about it. They couldn’t have a high school diploma, so coming here, they gave me the opportunity to accomplish a high school diploma and be able to start a career and have a better salary than they do,” she said.
She said she is grateful for her mother, who played a crucial role in helping her care for Telmy, allowing her to focus on her studies. “It could’ve been an obstacle, but with my mom’s help, it wasn’t. It was possible for me to graduate high school and give my all to school,” she said.
For Maite and her classmates, graduating from high school is much more than receiving a diploma. It represents the fulfillment of their parents’ dreams and sacrifices for a better future.
“Most of us are the first generation to graduate. Our parents left everything behind for us to have a better future, and for us to have better salaries,” she said.
As a member of the first graduating class of Southwest Middle High School, Maite feels honored to be making history. “We are making history as the first class of this institution and paving the way for future generations,” she said.
Maite has ambitious plans for her future. She aspires to become a dental hygienist and has been accepted to the University of Michigan. However, she is considering attending Grand Rapids Community College for a year before transferring to the university.
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