Life has a strange way of leading you into a path that you never imagined was possible. Let’s rewind for a bit, picture that last day, throwing your cap in the air, taking pictures with friends and family, you stop and realize that after High School a world of opportunity has opened up right before your eyes. You can literally be and do anything you want, and no one can stop you. Now picture this: you’re pregnant.
Today I decided to interview one of the strongest, inspirational and hardest working person I know, my best friend Morijah Mata. She is now 22 currently living in Bayshore, NY but born and raised in Monterey, CA. Morijah never thought that her life would ever be this different. After her mother’s passing she decided to move to NY to her sister’s house for a new beginning.
Q: When did you first find out that you were pregnant?
A: I was 18, just graduated from High School with a 3.2 GPA and a full ride to St. Josephs College.
Q: How did you feel when you first found out?
A: Shocked, but not so much because I was very sexually active with my boyfriend, now fiancé, at the time. I was also scared, I felt as if I was disappointing my family.
Q: How did the father react to your pregnancy?
A: Her father, Pedro, wasn’t really expressive. He was shocked at first and kept making jokes. But once it settled in and we had our first ultra sound and we heard her heartbeat he was very loving. He did almost everything for me.
Q: How did your family react?
A: My family… when I was 80% sure I was pregnant I left my family and that was heartbreaking and shocking, my family was very angry. When they found out I was pregnant they were even more upset. But after sometime, after my daughter Isabella was born and had her first birthday, my family and I talked more. Now it’s basically the same as when I lived with them. But our relationship is better, and I’m glad every day that they are in my daughter’s life.
Q: You went through so much right after graduating, how was your first semester of college? New school, new chapter in life, and being pregnant.
A: Apart from being lonely I was paranoid that everyone knew. I was Hispanic in a predominantly white school. My only friend my first semester was black.
Q: How did your grades look that first semester?
A: I failed.. I bombed hard.. I only passed English with flying colors.
Q: As your pregnancy progressed how was being in college?
A: School was hard, I missed a lot of classes. Didn’t do well with my morning sickness.
Q: If you could change anything would you?
A: I would focus more on school. Not let my own depression and lack of motivation get in the way. I would force myself to work hard and finish my degree.
Q: Please describe your life now.
A: My daughter is now 3 years old. I am in about 10k debt because of college and I didn’t finish my degree.. but none of that stopped me, I have a job that I can choose to be my career. I enjoy it and at the end of the day I have the satisfaction that I did something. My family (Pedro and Bella) is strong and we are buying our first house. Were very excited and can’t wait for what life has in store for us next.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A: Being a full time mother, student and employee didn’t work as well as I’d hoped it would for me, but it did bring me to where I am now, and I am thankful for that.