From Pain to Power: Stories of Transformation
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
By Apryl D. Roberts
At the age of 16 years of age, the trajectory of my life changed... The Honors student, who had been reared in private school, participated in pageants and was destined to be an attorney was now facing the reality of being a pregnant junior in high school. Although I had always felt confident in my actions and what my path in life would look like, I was now faced with uncertainty and fear. How can I tell my parents and what do I do next?
After successfully concealing my pregnancy from my family for 5 1/2 months, I finally spoke the words that no parent wishes to hear from their teenager “I am pregnant.”
My mother was understandably shocked, while my stepfather was sad but ready to support me in my future decisions. The decision was made for me to keep my baby and continue with my education. With the support of my family and my unborn child’s father’s family, I was ready to face the next chapter of my life (so I thought).
My high school guidance counselor suggested that I attend a local school that is designated for teen mothers that taught a curriculum of home economics and parenthood. I refused!
Although I was not the only pregnant teen attending my school, there was still a MAJOR stigma that followed me every day. Some students glared at me as if I had a contagious disease, while some of the teachers always looked down on me with eyes of pity and sorrow. I am grateful for those moments, as I believe that these encounters helped to fuel the drive in me to reach my goals even more.
I persevered through the negativity and sudden thrust into motherhood. I graduated from high school on time with honors and started college to complete my degree in Political Science. Let’s be clear, being a teen mother was NOT easy in any way. I did miss out on a lot of things that my peers were doing such as senior trips, college parties and impromptu shopping trips. My primary focus was my son, school and work.
I took a hiatus from school to work in the entertainment industry as I needed more income to raise my son. As I have family members that were deeply rooted in the music industry, it was only natural for me to find a space for myself. I worked as a tour production assistant for years before transitioning into the PR and marketing area of entertainment. During this time, I met my ex-husband who was also working within the music industry. We soon welcomed my second child, and my dreams were placed on hold again to raise our children while he pursued his dreams.
After divorce, I felt discontent and stagnant, so I completed my degree in Political Science and started my event planning business. Trying to develop my craft while being a single mother of two was extremely hard. My weekends and some evenings were spent either traveling out of state to shadow my mentors or working my own small events. Over time, my skills, business and demand grew. What started as a side hustle, developed into me becoming a top event producer, working with celebrities, major brands and non-profits.
Teen pregnancy nor single motherhood (after divorce) stopped me from achieving my goals. I worked harder as I was determined not to let anything serve as an excuse for me. Being unstoppable used to mean continuing without pause, but I have since learned that being unstoppable means preserving in spite of!
Connect With Apryl
Photo credit: A.Iman Photography
Comments