Friday, May. 16, 2008

Olathe East senior graduates on time despite taking time off for daughter

As if the pressures of teenage pregnancy weren’t difficult enough to deal with.

When she was a pregnant high school junior, Sheena Briseño worried about disappointing her family, her friends and herself. So it was overwhelming to be asked by strangers in public, “Aren’t you a little too young to be pregnant?”

“I know a lot of people look down on teen parents,” Briseño said. “But I want them to know that pregnant or teen moms can graduate with good grades and go to college.”

Briseño, the mother of 10-month-old Bianca, graduates Sunday from Olathe East High School with a transcript full of A’s and B’s.

“I know everyone has problems, and some are worse than others,” Briseño said. “You have to try to think positive. It can be done.”

Bianca was born in July 2007. After learning about infant development, Briseño wanted to be with her as much as possible during her first months. Briseño took the unusual step of not attending high school the first semester of this year. She fulfilled requirements by taking classes at community college, counselor Whitney Schmale said. Briseño returned to high school this spring and completed her requirements.

“Sheena for me is an inspiration,” Schmale said. “I don’t think I could have done what she has done. It was her persistence, her willingness to look at how the system works and the fact that she was not willing to give up.”

Briseño did math and English homework as she watched her daughter learn to crawl. She relied on family members, baby sitters and friends to take care of Bianca when she attended classes. They helped as Briseño took a job at a restaurant.

“It was really hard to go back to school, but my parents pushed me,” Briseño said. “I wanted to set a good example for my daughter. I want to get a good job and support her.”

Briseño’s father would rearrange his work schedule to watch Bianca knowing his daughter couldn’t miss much class. He moved to the United States from Mexico years ago and wanted his daughter to have a good education, Briseño said.

“Out of all of his brothers and sisters he was the only one to go to college,” Briseño said. “He thinks it’s the most important thing.”

Briseño said she had a great support system, which helped her complete her requirements. Her “amazing” counselor, Schmale, encouraged her to take the ACT college-entrance exam and apply for scholarships. Briseño’s instructors asked how she was doing and told her to “study hard.” Her “Teens as Parents” teachers gave her parental advice.

“Let (other teenage mothers) know that you are there. Help them out with baby sitting. Tell them you love them,” Briseño said. “It helped that they told me it doesn’t matter, to just learn from the mistakes I make...You can do it if you have support from family and friends.”

Briseño plans to take a year off and then attend college. She said she is also considering going to beauty school. Her plans are centered on building a good future for Bianca, she said.

“I will tell my daughter she has to (complete school) for herself, so she can be proud of herself” Briseño said. “She has to go into college and get a good job. It is definitely worth it.” Schmale said Briseño is an example of success because she is “an extremely hard worker.”

“For her to have overcome these obstacles and not drop out is an inspiration,” Schmale said. “She values her education. She’s getting to pursue her dreams. I have no doubt she will succeed.”

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