It is said that growing up is better than being a grown up. I personally agree; the young ones certainly have more liberties and privileges than adults. Kids are allowed to live carefree lives without worrying about the future. On the contrary, grown-ups have specific responsibilities they cannot ignore. In my case, I have surely enjoyed a carefree life as a child and as a teenager. Unfortunately, that carefree life forced me to become a grown-up immediately. I became a father at the age of 17, which is what I consider to be my biggest personal challenge.
I lived a carefree, happy-go-lucky life as a teenager. Just like any adolescent, I was spent most of my time having fun and enjoying myself. I often hung out with my friends, playing either sports or video games. We would drive around town with the windows open and music in full volume. It seemed to me like I had the freedom to do anything I wanted, without having to deal with the repercussions. I was young and I felt invincible.
Like any other male teenager, I was very much interested in the opposite sex. At the age of 15, I began spending more time with girls my age. I eventually had a girlfriend, and we became intimate. My friends and I have spoken about sex many times, but even I had to admit we did not know anything about it. We were innocent. However, we were young and seemingly indestructible. For me, being sexually active was an adventure. I must admit that I was incautious; I participated in unprotected sex without thinking of the consequences.
One day, my carelessness finally caught up with me. My girlfriend told me she was pregnant. When I first heard the news, I did not know how to react. The information did not sink in until a few days after. I was terrified and extremely nervous at the thought of being a father. I was a teenager; I was not prepared for the responsibility ahead of me. I did not know how to be a father. I found myself barely sleeping at night, contemplating on several questions. Dealing with an unwanted pregnancy and acknowledging my impending fatherhood proved to be the most overwhelming challenge. I thought my life had ended.
My life did end. My life as a careless, negligent teenager was over. I knew I could not live my life like I used to. I had to make plans for the future, now that I was not only living for myself. In no time, I was transformed from being a happy-go-lucky adolescent to a responsible grown-up. I became an adult overnight.
I became an active participant during my girlfriend’s pregnancy. I accompanied her whenever she went to the doctor for a check-up. I went shopping with her for baby clothes, toys and other things the baby might need. I found myself anxiously waiting for the day when my baby arrived. I realized things got easier when I readily accepted the responsibility of fatherhood.
The arrival of the baby was truly a struggle. My girlfriend and I were still students, so we still had academic responsibilities. We had to juggle our time between being students and being parents. For my part, I looked for a job to help provide for my child. I began multitasking; I was studying, working and being a parent at the same time. I was lucky to have the support of my family and friends; I was not alone in this situation. I needed all the help I could get.
My biggest challenge in life was becoming a parent at the tender age of 17. It was a challenge because my life dramatically changed; I was forced to give up my old juvenile ways to acknowledge the arrival of my child. I overcame that struggle by accepting my responsibility and doing the best I can for the given situation. As a young father who was still a student, the future seemed uncertain for my child. However, I moved forward; I attended to my studies while working on the side. I survived my biggest challenge by not allowing myself to be paralyzed by fear; I simply persevered. I also would not have survived without my family and friends. In my biggest challenge, I have learned that one must face life’s struggles with open arms. While it makes for some of the most difficult times, it made me a better and stronger person in the end.
