Mariah and her family were new to Tucson; that’s why it came as such as shock to Mariah when her parents kicked her out of the house. She had recently broken the news to them about her pregnancy, and they wanted nothing to do with her. Other than her teachers and classmates, Mariah didn’t know a single soul in the city. According to her, “I was pregnant, young, and confused… all I knew was that I needed to get my act together and FAST. My daughter’s future depended on me.”
Mariah heard about Youth On Their Own through her high school. As she learned more and more about the program, she knew it was the beacon of hope she’d been waiting for. Now a senior, Mariah has been in YOTO all 4 years of her high school career. The entire time, she has kept up her grades (consistently maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher), her attendance, and her attitude. “Youth On Their Own has helped make a significant difference in my future. I now realize that there is always another way, and I am capable of achieving anything I put my mind to. Having someone to talk to has been extremely beneficial.”
When she’s not taking care of her beautiful daughter, Mariah is working hard to ensure she has enough credits to graduate in May 2017 with her peers. After graduation, she plans to attend Pima Community College for 2 years and then transfer to the University of Arizona.
