Observations of a High School Sub-pregnant...again!

This morning, before class began, a young lady asked how long someone could wait before they could get an abortion. The bell rang and students began to file in, we had a brief conversation, but I knew I would need to revisit this question.

Class had gone particularly well. After our quiz we played an EOC review game. The students were squealing like little girls, shouting "Bingo" and excited to win prizes, then with about 20 minutes left, one young lady, who was happily playing the game, abruptly gets up and announces she is leaving! After firmly telling her she can't just walk out of class, she picked up her purse and stomped out of the room. I was totally bewildered.

Then the story began to pour out from the other girls. She had received a text (I didn't notice her looking at her phone) her DAUGHTER was taken by her FOSTER parents to another location. This teen mom was heading to the bus station to go find her daughter. To complicate matters, (As if they needed being more complicated) she found out she is pregnant...AGAIN!

"That's why I was asking you about abortion this morning, Mrs. Hucko, for her!"

The story, as told to me, goes something like this.... This pregnant 10th grade student lives in foster care with her 2 year old daughter. She has no support from family and her child's daddy is in jail. If she has the new baby, she believes her 2-year old will be taken from her and placed in a different foster home.

With issues like this, no wonder her grades are poor, her attitude is edgy, her attendance is sporadic and her behavior can be exhausting! How can a child think about EOC's when they have no family to live with, and two children to think about. It took all my will power, to not stop then & there and have the entire class pray for this young lady (But, I can't do that) However, I certainly began to pray silently from that moment on.

We resumed our EOC Bingo game, the girls squealed once again, as they picked "fabulous" prizes such as a notebooks, bubbles or markers. As I reflect on the day, I am struck by the extremes.... the simple joy of playing a child's game mixed with the overwhelming issues of complicated adult life....

I was ready for the bell. It was hard to remain up-beat and light hearted with such heavy issues going on in the shadows. I really hope she comes back to class. I'd like to talk with her before summer break. My goal.. is to spread hope.... in hopeless situations and this situation certainly calls for that. For now, I just pray and thank you for your prayers for the students of this High School Sub