Alumna Profile: Vanessa Tapia

Meet Vanessa, Class of 2009.

How old are you now and how old were you when you got pregnant?
I am 29 now. I was15 and 16 when I got pregnant.

What are you childrens’ names and ages?
Ailin who is 13, Marlene who is 12, and Samantha who is 1.

What did your life look like before you got pregnant? School, hobbies, after school activities, friends, family?
Before I got pregnant I played volleyball in a church youth team. I was raised Catholic, so I spend a lot of my free time as a volunteer for church events. I was in the choir, and an altar girl.

What was being a teen mom like?
Being a teen mom was the hardest experience of my life. It’s like the whole world is against you. Society is so judgmental and everyone seems to think you want their opinion  no matter what it is.

How did you find Florence Crittenton Services?
I found out about it through a high school Dean after he expressed what a bad influence I was and the bad reputation I was giving the school.

What was your experience like at FloCrit and how did FloCrit help you?
My Florence Crittenton family helped me become the woman I am today. It was the only place I was able to express myself without being judged. I finally belonged to something, a family not just a teen mom static.

Are you currently working?
Yes, I am a Sales Rep for a beverage company. I work part time at Amazon and have a cleaning business.

Is your child in school, daycare, or working?
I have an eighth grader and a sixth grader.

What are your goals for you and your child in the next five years?
In the next five years I would love to advance in the company that I work for now. I will do everything in my power to emphasize  to my daughter’s how important it is for them to continue their education.