While talking with one of my friends, we discussed  topics like parenting, especially when you are a teen. And then, navigating through the ACC Chronicle, I realized that we haven’t talked about the programs that take place at our school. Yes, Arlington Tech is one of them, and we can say that it is the most popular among this school (And what incredible program!), but what about the ELI program? Or what about PEP or the Academy? Every single program is what makes our beloved ACC diverse.  

This time, we will talk about the Teen Parenting Program. 

The principal mission of the Teen Parenting program is to support students who are parents. The program not only helps students who attend Arlington Career Center, but also assists other students throughout the county. Most of their students, when they get referred to the program, are expecting a baby or they have had a baby, so they make sure that students have all the things they need to continue their education and graduate from high school. 

According to coordinator Ms. Ingrid Basurto, the program provides vast support depending on different needs. For emotional support, they hold groups with their students to try to build a community where they can share similarities and responsibilities that they have, and also to lend a hand to each other. Additionally, they provide assistance with everyday needs like diapers, and also connect the students with the WIC services through Arlington County to be able to get assistance with food while they’re pregnant, but also with baby formula. Lately, when students deliver their babies, Ms. Basurto helps them apply for childcare so that they can continue their education and have a safe space for their babies to grow, and to be eligible to bring their babies to ACC’s daycare.

Beyond these services, the program also celebrates students’ achievements through the Terrific Parent Award. Each quarter, three students are nominated and recognized for their dedication. Recipients receive not only a nice award but also a gift card that can be used either for themselves or for their children.  

As students approach their senior year and graduation, Ms. Basurto also meets with them to discuss their plans after high school. Some students choose to enter the workforce, while others pursue higher education. The program helps connect students with opportunities such as scholarships that are solely for Teen Parents, including support from organizations like Generation Hope and the Kiwanis Club. 

The support provided by the Teen Parenting Program varies depending on the needs of each student, but its goal remains the same: to help student parents to continue their education while raising their children. 

When I was interviewing students in the program, I had the opportunity to speak with mothers in different stages of their parenting journey. One of them is currently pregnant and preparing to welcome her baby, another who is caring for a baby of just months, and another one who is raising a one-year-old baby. 

Greily Maritza, the student who is expecting a baby, shared that the hardest thing for her has been having to focus not only on herself, but also on her baby, but even so, she feels proud of herself because she has managed to move forward despite the challenges of being pregnant while in school.

Yhoana, a student with a baby only a few months old, shared that one of the most difficult parts of her journey has been making sure her baby is healthy. Similarly, Sandra is also caring for a baby just a few months old, and she said that being at school and taking care of her son at the same time was a challenge. However, she added that she feels reassured because she knows her baby is safe at ACC’s daycare while she attends class. 

Marely, the student who has her one-year-old baby, states that managing her daily schedule is the most difficult part for her because she has to go to work, take care of her baby, and study, all at the same time. Marely also shared that she feels proud of herself because she did a good job raising her baby. 

Even though all of the students I interviewed are on different stages of motherhood, they remarked on the importance that the Teen Parenting Program had on their journeys. Students can rely on coordinator Ms. Basurto when they feel lost or when they have a question. The program and Ms. Basurto help students to know what resources are available, and help them to deal with the sense of failure, loneliness, and stigma that still surround teen parents. 

Ms. Basurto also shared that she felt very connected with their students. “I see myself through them. I see my own story. I was a teen mom myself,” she said, “I see a little bit of myself in each one of them. I connect very much with each one of them. I see the goodness in them… and I want to make sure that they feel strong enough to overcome a lot of the challenges that they may have.”

The existence of a program like Teen Parenting is why ACC is ACC. The help offered by the program makes a difference in giving up or keep going. Every student has their own story, their own dreams and determination, and every program in this school makes sure that each of those necessities is met. 

The Teen Parenting Program demonstrates that teen students are more than capable of graduating and pursuing their goals. Most importantly, the program shows them that their ambitions do not have to end when they become parents. Instead, the arrival of their children becomes their greatest motivation to succeed.