“It’s hard to walk in the halls and know that people are looking at me in a very categorized negative way- almost as if saying ‘you’re such a whore,’” stated 17-year-old Alexus Mitchell.
As a senior at North Polk High School, Mitchell shares many similarities with her classmates throughout the building, one thing makes a big difference, though- she is expecting a baby this December.
When first finding out she was pregnant during the Spring semester of her junior year, Mitchell recounted her and others initial shock to the news.
“You never know the feeling you’ll have until it happens…it’s such a weird feeling, you don’t even know what to think and it hits right then and there.”
She moreover explained that her family, though at first not knowing how to take the news, has grown to be very supportive of her. Mitchell then explained that she has had an overwhelming support system from friends and people with whom she was not close to before announcing her pregnancy.
Everything is not positive for Mitchell, though, as she explained the negative stigma and physical symptoms that have surrounded her ever since becoming pregnant and more so her bump starting to show.
“You can see it right in [people’s] face[s], it’s like you know what they’re thinking…for some people their look is almost like pity, like they feel bad and think that I don’t even know what’s coming for me,” stated Mitchell.
As she is due in only a month, Mitchell recounted to her how her high school career was affected by this part of her life.
“Your high school experience is over…I can’t do prom, homecoming or any of the positive and or negative but fun things that high schoolers experience,” voiced Mitchell. She later stated that despite having to miss out on this part of her life, she eventually realized that there was a reason for which she was missing them- her baby; this reason was bigger than any moments of missing out on something.
When talking about these experiences, Mitchell then circled to the pressure and/or influence that may be felt by teenagers to partake in activities for which they may not be ready for- one of these ventures being sex.
Though the United States teen pregnancy rate is at an all-time low, it is still one of the highest in developed countries compared to others such as Canada and the United Kingdom according to the Office of Population Affairs.
She mentioned the pressure placed on teens by the media glamorizing the loss of innocence, peers and the overall sense of desire/need to grow up faster than ever. Moreover, she credited the lack of understanding about sex, contraceptives and overall information on the cause and effects of teen pregnancy.
“[Pregnancy] is something that’s so real that people don’t talk about it seriously a lot. If she’s not watching her cycle, he’s not wearing a condom and/or if she’s not on birth control those things will align and someone will end up getting pregnant,” communicated Mitchell. She moreover urged people to educate themselves on these taboo, yet necessary, topics in order to be more careful and avoid the problems that pregnancy can bring.
Another one of these problems that Mitchell discussed was the lack of financial support for teen moms. Though there are government programs, Mitchell explained that access to said programs and or even being able to receive any aid is not always available to moms. She specifically mentioned economic status being an issue with the Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, as some moms may be more eligible than others despite being placed in the same situation.
“[The state government] need[s] to come up with a better system because it is not as available to everyone as they claim it to be,” Mitchell stated.
Michell explained that these problems were things that she had never even considered when becoming pregnant, and when trying to educate others she wanted people to understand that there is so much more than just what people may think pregnancy problems may be.
“Not even just the physical aspect of pregnancy, but the mental aspect…Seeing my body change and not recognizing my body, it’s really really hard…Making sure you’re ready and have everything you need…There’s just so much stress that people don’t realize is going on,” stated Mitchell.
When asked about how her life has taken a turn and will change in the future, Mitchell explained that though she knows her life is not “over” as some may see it, there will definitely be detours.
“I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer and go to college, but now I’d say that’s going to be after at least a year to take care of things, so college is pushed away,” explained Mitchell. Moreover, she expressed that that career path has since changed.
When asked if she would advise against teen pregnancy after living through it, Mitchell explained that she would advise against it, as many if not all teenagers probably do not understand the gravity of this situation.
“It’s hard, being a teen and having to deal with everything that comes with [pregnancy], but it’s like, I’m still me, and you just have to keep moving forward,” ended Mitchell.
