Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Graduation (08/30/04)
TITLE: Second Chance By Rose Gingerich 08/31/04 |
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND |
Over the next weeks Carrie continued to have flu like symptoms, feeling tired and sometimes throwing up. She began feeling suspicious when her jeans started feeling snug. She told no one of her suspicions, but kept it to herself, as long as she could. She was just starting her senior year of highschool and could not believe this was happening to her. She had worked so hard to get good grades, and graduating from highschool, at the top of her class, was her goal.
Now Carrie was terrified to face her parents' wrath and the shame of her friends. She would tell no one. As time went on however, she could no longer hide the fact that she was pregnant. She had to tell her parents. As she had feared, they were horrified and livid. They demanded she get an abortion immediately, so she could finish highschool and to save their reputation.
Carrie was mortified just thinking about killing the little life that was growing inside of her. She was even more devastated than when she found out she was pregnant. Her mother said she would get her an appointment the next day and get it over with, before anyone found out.
On the way home from school the next day, Carrie stopped by the Crisis Pregnancy Center where they examined her and did a sonogram so they could determine how far along her pregnancy was. After seeing the baby on the tiny screen, Carrie knew there was no way she could ever let anyone kill her baby. The girl that talked to her told her they would help her any way they could. She told her of her dream of graduating from highschool and about her parents not letting her go back to school shaming the family. The girl told her she would be able to complete her highschool education at home and graduate like anyone else. She might not have a big graduation party with the rest of her class, but she would get her diploma.
Carrie made up her mind that she would study hard at home and if her parents would not let her stay at home, she would move out and get a job. The girl at the Crisis Pregnancy Center said she could help her find an apartment and a job if needed.
Her parents said she could stay at home to finish her studies, when they saw that she had made up her mind. She did very well and worked harder than ever, determined to get the diploma she had worked so hard for.
When the school saw how determined she was, they checked her records and seeing what an outstanding student she had been, they decided to give her a second chance. So after Carrie had her baby and the school year came to a close, they called saying, that Carrie could come and take a test which, if she passed, would allow her to graduate with her class.
Carrie was so excited that she studied extra hard in the weeks to come passing the test with flying colors, and graduating with her class. Her parents sat in the audience, holding her wee daughter, knowing she had made the right choice, and thankful that their daughter had been given a second chance.