Hawley teen mom determined to graduate

HAWLEY, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – Being a teenager is busy, from going to school to preparing for adulthood. But imagine adding a baby to that list. That’s the reality for 17-year-old Serenity Hildebrand, a junior at Hawley High School .

“I was actually at work and randomly decided to just take a test randomly and found out I was pregnant,” explained Serenity.

When Serenity saw the positive pregnancy test, she knew her life would change. Her mind filled with anxiety and then happiness, as she knew she would have support from her family and the baby’s father.

“When people don’t accept it with me being so young and being a mom, the hate I can get from that, but I just choose not to accept it and just live on with my life, very happy to have such an accepting family because if I didn’t, I’d definitely be struggling mentally with the pregnancy and all that” added Serenity.

It’s an experience her mother, Caroline Hildebrand, can relate to as she was also a teen mom with Serenity at 17. Back then, she had the support of her dad and grandmother, and she remembers feeling judged when going to the doctor.

“That support wasn’t there. Everybody is like, you’re 16, you shouldn’t be having this baby. I was worried more about how she was going than how I was going to handle it because I know no matter what, I’m going to love that baby and be there,” added Caroline.

This support gives her the strength to work part-time while being a full-time student and, at the same time, preparing for her son’s arrival. She is currently participating in a fast-track program in school that allows her to take on additional credits to finish at her own pace.

“Mentally preparing for the baby and finally getting my life together and making sure that everything is ready for him, I think that’s what has been the best because I’ve been able to get my life together, and everything is going to be good,” expressed Serenity.

While working part-time can only pay for specific items, strangers were willing to lend a helping hand. She shared her story on Facebook and has received donations from people willing to help.

“Being able to know there’s random people out there that think it’s an amazing thing to support a teen mom helps mentally a lot and lets me know to hold on to that hope and all that,” explained Serenity.

It’s the support she says she’s grateful to have as many teen moms who aren’t as lucky. Holly Joiner with Pregnancy Resources of Abilene says options are available for moms needing help, helping roughly 3,000 women annually.

“We will help anywhere from 2-300 teen moms a year, anything from a pregnancy test to helping with diaper wipes and formula,” added Joiner.

“It is hard, but it can be done, and you can still achieve your goals and all of your dreams. They still can happen, and there are so many resources in this community that you can tap into to help you in your journey to success,” Joiner said.

Something Serenity says she can relate to. Although there is a long journey ahead, she knows she has what she needs.

Serenity is due in November and is expecting a baby boy. After graduation, she plans to start cosmetology school and focus on raising her baby. She is thankful for the help from her family and friends, who support her in making this happen.

You can visit Serenity’s baby registry here .

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