Veronica stands with her baby, Oscar Alexander, her mother, Rosa, and her dad, Oscar. Veronica’s goal of a high school diploma was threatened when she became pregnant, but her family, social worker, and Common Hope scholarship have helped Veronica to continue her education.
EDUCATION
“With more education, I will be able to get a better job to support Oscar Alexander.”
– Veronica Aguilar,
high school student
Veronica Aguilar navigates a detour that could have derailed her path to graduation
Despite an unplanned pregnancy, Veronica’s social worker and scholarship sustain her work toward goal.
A few years ago, Veronica Aguilar had found a precarious balance of school, homework, friends, and coping with her parents’ divorce. A few months before her 18th birthday, however, she received news that would forever change her life: Veronica was pregnant.
Veronica was living with her father, Oscar, at the time, and was worried about how he would react to the situation. Unable to tell her father on her own, Veronica sought the help of her Common Hope social worker, Mirna Boteo. Mirna arranged a meeting with Veronica, her parents, and a Common Hope social work supervisor.
To Veronica’s surprise, her father did not react angrily but instead accepted the news calmly and vowed to continue to support his daughter no matter what. “Veronica was much calmer after she told her father,” says Mirna, “They were all thankful for the intervention and for the support of Common Hope.”
Now almost two years later, Oscar is Veronica’s biggest advocate. Aside from providing financial support to Veronica and the baby, Oscar has a flexible work schedule as a gardener so he can watch his grandson while Veronica is at school and work. “I want her to have these opportunities,” says Oscar, “I want her to advance and have a career so that she can provide the best for the baby.”
Veronica seems to be on that path. Besides her responsibilities as a single mother, she also works part-time and is finishing high school with the help of a Common Hope scholarship. “With more education, I will be able to get a better job to support Oscar Alexander,” Veronica says.
And she has already started planning for the future. “I want to have my own business one day, a small store or a book shop,” she says, “That way I would have more time to help [Oscar Alexander] with his homework when he is in school.” If Oscar Alexander’s determination is anything like his mom’s, we are sure he will be a successful student!
