Nothing cuts through the soul of an young adult like hearing or saying the words, “I’m pregnant.” Overnight your priorities shift from studying to buying a heaping load of Pampers.
Senior Ecclesia Holmes remembers being on her lunch break working at Payless when she realized she might be pregnant.
“I had a burger, and it didn’t stay down. I felt so sick!” Holmes said. “After I threw up I was like, ‘Okay. Was it food poisoning, or the other thing?'”
Holmes worked up the courage to tell her boyfriend the news, but the real challenge was telling her mother.
“I didn’t tell her,” Holmes said. “I took a picture of the test and sent it to her, to see what she was going to say.”
Senior Travis Louis found out his ex-girlfriend was pregnant on Valentine’s Day.
“She was rubbing her stomach,” Louis said. “And I’m like, ‘Are you trying to tell me your pregnant?’ Then she didn’t really saying anything. Then I’m like, ‘Oh snap!'”
Louis was in shock, but his big family was very supportive.
“Everybody helped,” Louis said. “I already knew that it wasn’t going to be as hard as I thought it would be when I got the ‘okay’ from everyone.”
In contrast, Holmes’ mother was not thrilled and even suggested not to keep the baby. Having a baby took a toll on their relationship, but Holmes’ mother still remained supportive.
On Nov. 27, 2009, Holmes’ son Dillan Ingol was born.
“He is the best thing that ever happened to me and changed my whole outlook on life,” Holmes said as she recalls that day.
Soon reality set in. After taking one semester off because of a difficult pregnancy, Holmes returned to school and went to class during the day while working at Wal-Mart at night.
“It’s a strain,” Holmes said. “There were sleepless nights and at the same time having emotional issues with his dad.”
Eventually Holmes and her boyfriend broke up and Holmes fought through her hectic schedule to support Dillan.
Louis’ daughter, Alana Louis, was born on Aug. 7, 2008.
“I was happy. I finally got to see her for the first time after nine months,” Louis said.
Louis was 20 years old at the time and a sophomore at Albany State University. He took a year off from school to work two jobs as a server and valet at home in Atlanta. Louis’ ex-girlfriend decided to drop out of school and stay in Albany. Eventually, Louis enrolled in classes at Georgia State and left his valet job, but was promoted from server to bartender at Villa Christina.
“It’s very difficult,” Louis said. “Sometimes I have to cut classes or miss certain work days. I’m either not getting paid or making a bad grade, but you got to do what you got to do.”
Although Louis is an economics major, his passion is producing music. In the future he wishes to create scholarships for single fathers.
Holmes’ experiences motivated her to start a program for young single mothers called My Soul 2 Keep.
“It encourages young moms like me and tells people more about the resources that are out there,” Holmes said. Holmes says her program informs mothers about rental assistance, day care, and other resources.
Aside from starting her own program and raising her own child, Holmes is a member of the Delta Theta Sigma Sorority. She is majoring in Sociology with a double minor in English and Psychology. She believes God is her main source of strength and that everything happens for a reason.
“It’s not the end of the world,” Holmes said. “People try to make it seem like your life has stopped, but it stops only if you let it stop. Never give up!”
