Maxine's story: "Making a life for ourselves"

Every story is different.

That's one of the reasons why there's no silver bullet solution to America's dropout epidemic. The factors that force one student out of school might have no effect on the educational progress of another. And the keys to keeping students in school — or bringing them back into the fold — are just as varied. 

That's why its important to hear the stories of as many students as possible. The more we know from them, the more we can help others like them...

... one by one.

Today at NoDropouts.org, we hear from Maxine, who left school last Thanksgiving.

I found out I was pregnant on Thanksgiving night. I was scared — terrified — but I had to let my parents know. I told them that weekend.

It’s been three months since that day and we still don’t talk about it much — it’s not a comfortable subject — but I know they love me, they’re here for anything and they’re willing to help me out.

One thing they couldn’t help me with, though, was staying in the school I was at. It’s a private boarding school, a Christian school, and they have beliefs and standards to uphold. For this sort of thing to happen would be sort of shocking, I guess. You can’t attend that school if you’re pregnant, so I had to find another option.
I started looking into schooling right away. I didn’t want to attend the local high school in my home town. I decided I’d rather do it online and try to do it as fast as I can, so that I’d be done before my baby comes. My pastor helped me get registered and I started as soon as I could.

My goal is to finish by May, and at the pace I’m going I think I’ll be able to do that. I want to start college in the fall. After my baby comes, I would like to finish the rest of my education have a steady job to support my baby and start making a life for ourselves.

Maxine is a student at The American Academy, which partners with school districts nationwide to re-enroll dropouts back into school and help guide them to a diploma and which sponsors NoDropouts.org. For more information on The American Academy and its programs, visit SchoolAsAService.com