Facing an unplanned pregnancy during her senior year in high school turned into a wake-up call that led her to build a better life for herself and her son. As a teacher, she’s passionate about spreading hope and empowering her students.
Brooklynn was an 18-year-old senior in high school when she scheduled an abortion appointment after seeing two pink lines on a pregnancy test.
“I wanted to get an abortion right from the beginning,” Brooklynn says.
WAKE-UP CALL
Her then-boyfriend was in and out of jail. Brooklynn didn’t know how she’d make it in life alone as a teen mom. She felt afraid and embarrassed, so abortion seemed to be the right option.
“I felt hopeless, and it felt like it was just the worst thing that could possibly happen to me because all of a sudden it became this roadblock from escaping the small town that I grew up in,” Brooklynn recalls. “I had such a bitter taste in my mouth and wanted to leave, and I was like, ‘Well, how is that ever going to happen?’ So I made an appointment to erase that mistake that I felt like I made.”
Shortly before her abortion appointment, Brooklynn went to a clinic to get an official pregnancy test. When the results came back positive, she knew she couldn’t go through with her appointment anymore.
Brooklynn considered herself pro-life, but initially chose abortion out of fear. Acknowledging that she was carrying another life inside her changed her mind.
“I think that’s what did it for me is realizing, OK, this isn’t just a drugstore pregnancy test. This is real, and this child is real. I couldn’t come to terms with ending that,” Brooklynn says.
Brooklynn shared the news of her unplanned pregnancy individually with her separated parents. They were emotional about the news but supported Brooklynn in any way they could.
After notifying her parents, Brooklynn approached the principal of her conservative Christian school before news of her pregnancy spread like wildfire. She wasn’t allowed to go back to school after spring break due to the school’s policy about pregnant students. However, she was able to go to the school after hours where several teachers helped her with her coursework so she could graduate on time.
“Experiencing that season in my life was probably one of the most excruciating things that I had to go through,” Brooklynn recalls. “Sometimes I just hate revisiting the memories, even though I’ve moved on, even though I feel that I have forgiven, because I just never felt so alone and so far from God.”
“What I thought was my biggest mistake turned out to be my biggest blessing,” Brooklynn says.
Brooklynn felt angry and alone as her pregnancy progressed. She lost many friends and felt like an outcast everywhere she went. On top of all that, the father of her child couldn’t support them because he was in and out of jail. Brooklynn knew he wasn’t the man she wanted to marry. She wanted better for her son.
“As I reflect on that season in my life of getting pregnant, I realize now that it really saved me,” Brooklynn says. “I sit here 10 years later realizing that I needed to have that child to become a mother first to truly begin to know my Father’s heart. Through having a child of my own and denying my own desire to take matters into my own hands, I was better in understanding that unconditional love that God has for us and His children.”
Before her pregnancy, Brooklynn felt like she was living a double life as a Christian. Brooklynn lived recklessly, but her pregnancy became a wake-up call for her to change her life. She realized her life was never her own — her life was God’s.
“What I thought was my biggest mistake turned out to be my biggest blessing. My situation was not ideal in light of a teenage pregnancy in school, but it’s what I needed to put me back on the right track and on the road that God intended for me to be on all along,” Brooklynn says.
‘FORCED TO GROW UP’
Brooklyn struggled a lot as a single teen mom but endured to build a better life for herself and her son.
Brooklynn felt stuck after going through her pregnancy. She had split time living with her mom and dad while friends and former classmates went to college or pursued their careers. Brooklynn didn’t believe she could make it on her own, but at the same time, she knew she needed to do something to give herself and her son a better life.
About a year after her son’s birth, Brooklynn enrolled in college full time. She had been waiting tables for six months and got a second job at a grocery store while attending classes. Her family rallied around her to help care for her son.
Attending the university in the town she grew up in seemed to be exactly what she needed to persevere. Brooklynn was surrounded by professors who prayed for her and supported her.
Despite the support system she had, Brooklynn still struggled juggling all the responsibilities in her life. She wasn’t sleeping much as she worked two jobs and attended classes full time. She was also trying to figure out her identity, constantly feeling like she was never good enough.
“I feel like that’s something a lot of young teen moms face because you’re forced to grow up,” Brooklynn says.
At 19, Brooklynn met her ex-husband. She wanted to have a “normal life” where she had a house, a husband, a father for her child, and be a stay-at-home mom. She dived into that relationship quickly and got engaged six months into dating. Brooklynn was married by the time she was 21 and divorced by 24.
“Before I had even graduated college, I had been married and I had been divorced,” Brooklynn says.
Going through that divorce forced Brooklynn to find healing in God and prioritize her relationship with the Lord first. She then graduated from college and got her first teaching position.
However, Brooklynn still struggled with her self-confidence and moved back with her parents after graduation. She was deeply hurt from the divorce. Her marriage to her ex-husband was unhealthy, and navigating a messy divorce took a toll on her.
“I fell into a deep depression — deep, deep trend of anxiety. I was constantly nervous, constantly scared, feeling like I had lost hope. My life was almost like a roller coaster for several years,” Brooklynn says.
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
Brooklynn with her husband and son.
It wasn’t until Brooklynn completely surrendered her life to the Lord, received counseling, and met her now husband that her life started to turn around for the better. Experiencing God’s faithfulness through her unfaithfulness opened her eyes to how merciful and forgiving God is.
“When I pause a minute in the craziness of life and look at my son, I’m reminded of the goodness of God and get a small glimpse of how He must feel about His children. Through every reckless and dark season, His hand has been so evident in my life, and He has been so faithful,” Brooklynn says.
Brooklynn met her now husband when she was 24. They got married after a year of dating and have been married for over five years. Brooklynn’s husband adopted Ben two years ago.
“I wish you could see the joy on that little guy’s face when we finally got his name changed,” Brooklynn says. “My husband has been a godsend and has loved Ben like his own, and that’s who Ben calls his dad.”
Brooklynn’s son, Ben, is now 10 years old. He’s part of the gifted program at his school and plays for a traveling baseball team that his dad coaches.
“He is the light of my life. He’s so sweet and genuine, and he’s just been my biggest blessing,” Brooklynn says.
TEACHING TO INSPIRE & EMPOWER
Brooklynn with her son, Ben.
While attending college, Brooklynn had a professor who impacted her life deeply and shared the light of Christ with her. Her teacher radiated peace, joy and understanding, which became her inspiration for the type of teacher she wanted to become.
“My prayer is just, God, let me radiate who you are, give me opportunities to share who you are and parts of my story to give someone hope because there’s so many people who, like I was, just feel hopeless,” Brooklynn says.
Brooklynn graduated from college with a certification for elementary education. But within a semester of teaching, she knew it wasn’t right for her. Thankfully, there was a local opening at an alternative high school.
“That opened my eyes. Like, oh my word, look at all these teens who are hurting. Look at all these girls. It feels like they have no hope. And that’s where it kind of opened my eyes like, yeah, this is where I’m supposed to be,” Brooklynn says.
As a teacher, Brooklynn is passionate about spreading hope and encouragement to her students who are in dire circumstances. She wants to show her students that they have options and can build a better future for themselves.
“Life has its ups and downs and many twists and turns, but it’s definitely given me a testimony. I want to share it with as many people as I possibly can,” Brooklynn says.
Written by Loren Ward.
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