“I’m…pregnant,” two words that can change an entire life for any person, especially a teenager.

On Oct. 23 of last year, senior Teri Flores gave birth to her daughter Alyssa Mae. Now a year later, she reflects on her life then, now, and what her future will hold.

“I don’t do what normal kids do,” Flores said. “When I get out of school I go straight home to take care of her. It’s a big responsibility.”

Flores found out Valentine’s Day her sophomore year. She had been sick for a while and took an at-home pregnancy test. She officially found out by a doctor in March one day after her 16th birthday.

“I had morning sickness a lot for the first three months,” Flores said. “I missed a lot of school.”

As she told her story, she couldn’t stop smiling.

“I am against abortion. I couldn’t imagine having her and then considering adoption,” Flores said.

Her initial reaction was excitement, but then when everything set in, she became worried for “obvious reasons.”

“At first everyone was awkward,” Flores said, “but now my family and my closest friends help me with her and love her.”

Flores and the father had always assumed, “it will never happen to us.”

“As much as I love her I wish I would have waited,” Flores said. “We weren’t financially stable or emotionally stable. It’s pretty challenging finishing school and finding work and finding time to raise her.”

Alyssa’s father is still a part of her life, but Flores and his plans to marry after she graduates are “undecided.” He’s in his twenties and out of school.

“He tries to be a good dad,” Flores said. “But he doesn’t have a good sense of responsibility. We’re civil, but not together.”

High school rumors and gossip can be heartbreaking, but almost inevitable in such a delicate situation.

“There were a lot of kids at school talking behind my back,” Flores said. “I think the hardest time was when I was shopping after I had Alyssa. This lady I didn’t even know came up to me and lectured me about premarital sex.”

Flores moved around a lot during her pregnancy. She was living with her family, her friends, and for a while the father. Because their relationship didn’t work out, she is living at home with her parents again.



After a year, things are becoming more routine and as normal as possible.

“It’s not hard and easy [being a parent], everything comes naturally now; It’s not as complicated as most girls make it seem. You get used to it; it’s how it is.”

Flores is graduating in January for Alyssa. She is going to wait a year to start college where she will be majoring in business and minoring in interior decorating. She had initially planned on going to California for college.

“It’s no big deal to me,” Flores said about staying in state. “As long as I can be with her.”

Alyssa said her first word “mama” on mother’s day and took her first step in late August. Even though with all the precious memories Flores still realizes the sacrifices she made.

“Just don’t take advantage of any help you can get. You have to grow up fast, and you can’t worry about petty high school stuff. You can’t be worried about being a kid because you’re raising one.”