REAGHAN

I had just entered my sophomore year of college with high expectations of completing the last three years of my education. No longer fresh meat on campus, I now walked confidently in my goals toward my career. Just when I thought I had my life premeditated, an unplanned pregnancy shattered what I proclaimed my perfect life to pieces. With that positive pregnancy test in one hand and what little dignity I had left for myself in the other, I made the decision to bring this new life into the world.

The consequences behind this choice sailed me through a deep depression. My grades dropped tremendously. The relationship with the unborn’s father came to an end. I was surrounded in an atmosphere of disappointment. Before I could even fully enjoy young adulthood, at the age of 20, I was already a college dropout and soon to be a single parent. In mental health, one hears about post-partum depression and how it can emotionally tear a mother apart, but here I was with before birth tremors.

I had to realize that I did not have to battle this mind war alone. I reached out to my higher power, mine being Christ, and I began to research, “first time mother” online forums. To my surprise, there were young mothers just like me in the world who were going through similar situations. I learned several effective coping skills that helped me get through each trimester.  

On June 6, 2013. I became one of my favorite titles, a mother. I fought and gained the victory of my depression, delivered a healthy baby boy, and strategically returned to college to later graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi. Mental health is just as important as your physical health and remember that you do not have to conquer it alone.

-Reaghan Davis