I am still shocked to this day that I am attending Sinclair Community College. I became pregnant in high school and thought that was going to be the end of the road for me. I had grown up with my mom always telling me that I am going to go to college. That I will be the first one in my family to go and graduate and make something of myself. I grew up not knowing any other option other than college for my future.
When I had my son, school became hard for me, not to mention the stress of trying to come up with a plan for after high school. I had explained to my mom many times that there was no way I would be able to go to college because it requires a lot more time and effort and at the time, I felt I did not have that. She still encouraged me to go and told me she would help me as much as she could. Graduation was coming up very fast and I had applied to two colleges. I got accepted into both and chose Sinclair.
Sinclair is close to where I live and smaller, so I felt this was a good fit for me and my situation. I often have moments of appreciation when walking to class, driving to campus, or just sitting in the library. I take a moment to look around and take everything in because I am so grateful to have an opportunity like this. This is definitely such a special time in my life, and I know I will look back and be completely in awe. This is a story that I want to tell my children and I try to aspire my younger family members. Despite all the doubts I had for myself and my future, my mom gave me the push and I am in college after all.
Claudia De La Cruz
The winner of Sinclair’s National Share Your Story Challenge