My name is Larena Hernandez, and I am 19 years-old. Born and raised in the Bay Area, as a child my family moved a lot because we were always getting evicted. During my high school years I, I got in to trouble a lot and simply stopped going, My freshman year I met my boyfriend Vincent who is the love of my life. Eventually, I went to a continuation school in Antioch, my senior year I found out that I was pregnant; scared, shocked and somehow excited I turned my life around. Since I was 15 I had a job, I had to save my own money to get what I wanted and help my mom with bills after my step-dad left us. Soon after that happened, my mom kicked my sister and I out and we went from my aunts house then to our boyfriends' (who are cousins) But since I was in school and pregnant I didn't want to work. I also took a class at Antioch High to earn extra credits and attended the morning and afternoon classes at my continuation school. I wanted to graduate for my unborn child- to give him or her a great life; everything that I didn't have and more. I graduated and won the Personal Growth Award out of my class at 7 months pregnant. My boyfriend had dropped out earlier in the year and continued to work. I had my son 2 months later, went to work when he was 2 months old, and then started college. My major is Journalism and I would like to do something in broadcasting. I live on my own, take care of my son and continue to further my education. I don't believe that having a child young is a setback, my son is my motivation. He saved me; I was heading in the wrong direction. Of course it is tough, but who says life is easy? My story is unique because most young moms don't do half of the things that I do and I would like to show them that it is possible.