Confessions of a High School Dropout

If you asked 15 year-old me where she saw herself in three years, she'd tell you that she would live in Washington state enjoying a full ride to Puget Sound University working towards her M.D. She would ramble on for hours about her plans for education and a successful career; she wouldn't mention anything about dating, getting married or having a family. She would probably laugh if you asked her if she would have a family one day; families don't make you an internationally renowned Marine Biologist. 15 year-old me wouldn't believe the woman I am today.

I did pretty well in school, provided I did my homework. I never glanced at drugs or alcohol; I had plans for the future. January of my junior year in high school I got my first job-- I didn't know it then, but it was one of the biggest life changes I ever made. I met the love of my life in the kitchen of that restaurant.

The moment our lips first touched I knew that I would spend the rest of my life with Jack. They say that there's a spark between you and that special someone; there's always a magical electricity between us that never seems to go away. Which was a great blessing when he was away for basic training and tech school; even through the months I was still crazy in love with him. It was hard to have him gone for so long, I would sometimes jokingly tell him over the phone that he should have just knocked me up so I wouldn't be so lonely without him.

In the beginning of February my senior year in high school my mom was informed that I was on truancy. This was silly; due to medical issues I frequently had difficulty in the morning. The school viewed my multiple tardies and absences as truancy and threatened my mom with legal action; even with the doctor's notes and diagnoses'. We made the decision to pull me out of school and I got my GED (scoring a 714 composite score out of a possible 800!) I was happy to receive my High School Diploma but the absence of school left me alone. So I ate, a lot. I started gaining weight and my mom started noticing; so we started going to the gym together. I didn't lose any weight and my belly button started sticking out; I was so frustrated!

One night I started having muscle spasms in my stomach and I contributed it to the vigorous work out routine. But the spasms kept happening the next night and I began to get worried. What if I had an intestinal worm? I called Jack and told him about it and he urged me to go to the doctor. I spent that morning at work being scared; and then I got a text from my sissy asking if I was pregnant. I almost laughed, but then I started to question it myself. She set an appointment with her doctor and brought me a sack of prenatal vitamins. I talked to Jack and we seriously considered the possibility. The next night after a Slumber Party at my sissy's house I sat down with my mom and my sissy; we talked about what would happen if the test came back positive.

The morning of my appointment I talked to Jack before he left for school; I hated that I had to go by myself but I knew that he wasn't going to magically fly back from Texas just to hold my hand. So I held my sissy's hand as she pulled up the test results on her laptop; and I stared at the little pink "positive" on the screen. We went to tell my mom, then made the horrifying journey to tell my step dad. I anxiously waited for Jack to call from his dinner break. I broke the news to him and he immediately responded with, "Wait a minute, I have to call Payton!"

15 year-old me wouldn't believe the woman I am today. But from the view point of a high school dropout, I wouldn't change a thing.