Seana's Story

It’s tough and emotional to explain how being a teen mom impacts you. It’s all a very overwhelming process. From the moment you hear, “You’re pregnant.” For me, it was a huge question, “What am I going to do?” I was already 26 weeks when I found out that I was pregnant and in just a few months my baby would be born. 

How I became and got involved with the TIP organization was by chance of God. The day after my son was born a sweet lady with the biggest smile came into my hospital room and asked how I was, if I was OK, and if I needed anything. She told me she wasn’t my nurse, but she was here to help me. That was Mrs. Mason. She left a few things for me and my mom and told us how she could support us with NEW LIFE and TIP, to help and make sure we had health care coverage and WIC and anything else that we might need. At first. I didn’t get in touch right away being a new mom was an overwhelming experience at 17. I had no idea what to do! Six weeks later I went back to school, ran into Mrs. Mason, and was reintroduced to NEW LIFE and TIP. 

Through TIP I was able to learn new skills that were truly going to help me as a young mom. How to keep going and not give up and not think “this is the end of the line” and “this is all my life is going to be”. About once a month, she would show up, talk to us about TIP and mentoring and if we needed anybody, call her. Anybody to help, she would come. TIP showed us new skills on how to mother our new babies, how to sit at dinner for an interview, etiquette on how to present yourself and things you should say and not say in an interview. Then my big opportunity was getting a job with NEW LIFE and TIP. This was my first real office setting and at 17! 

I helped work in the office, file paperwork, helped by calling other young girls my age who were pregnant and going through the same overwhelming things. Doing all of this helped me push and gave me hope that I could go to college and do more for me and my son. I did have a very helpful support system with my aunt, she was willing to look after my son while I went to college. I took all the skills I learned through TIP and NEW LIFE, that I didn’t realize I had picked up. How to talk to people, organizational skills, valuing myself. I worked hard, finished school in 3 ½ years, got a job and came home to my son. Dedication, working hard and walking in the path that God he set for me, remembering to value the little things along the way have gotten me to where I am. 

I’m blessed to say I’m a marketing and sales manager for a $6 million/year company and I’m able to provide the things that me and my son need and even a little extra to do the things we love!

By Karisa Norfleet

TIP Writer