Her plans were to study cosmetology or become a medical assistant -- once she finished high school.
Instead, when Karla Herrera learned she was expecting a baby at the age of 15, she put those plans on hold to attend to her daughter, Ailani.
"It was a sacrifice I needed to make," Karla said in Spanish, the words coming straight from the heart.
Karla, now 17, was scheduled to graduate from high school this summer. But as a sophomore at Latino College Preparatory Academy in San Jose, Karla did not have someone to watch Ailani while she attended school. That left her no choice but to drop out and focus on caring for her new child.
According to Planned Parenthood, children born from teen mothers are more likely to end up having children at a young age. Other studies show that teenage mothers are less likely to graduate than those who do not conceive at a young age.
But what happens to these young mothers once they get beyond the age that they were supposed to graduate high school? And what about those who stay in school?
Information gathered by the Web site advocatesforyouth.com, a database for youth advocacy information and statistics, shows that prospects for teen parents who dropout of high school are not promising:
* Teen mothers have about a 60 percent chance of graduating from high school by age 25, compared with 90 percent of those who postpone childbearing.
* Among dropouts, teen women who have children are much less likely to return to school.
Despite the discouraging numbers, some young San Jose mothers say they are trying to prevent their children from becoming just another statistic.
"The leaders of tomorrow are being born right now," Karla said, confident in her ability to raise her child to be successful. She lives with the father of her child in his mother's East San Jose home.
Some women, like Karla, get kicked out of their houses once they are pregnant, or they are not accepted within their own families. The problem is bigger when they are forced to leave while carrying an unborn child.
In many cases, the women end up living with their boyfriends' families rather than their own.
"I get more support from my mother-in-law than my own mother," said Debbie Rodriguez, who gave birth to her child two days before her 18th birthday.
Rodriguez lives with her husband and mother-in-law.
While attending school, Rodriguez dreamed of one day becoming a photographer. Unlike Karla, she did not quit school. She became more determined to graduate.
She graduated while pregnant, on time with her class in summer 2005. She started working right after graduation.
Rodriguez is pregnant with a second child and works at a bank. She plans on returning to school once she delivers her newest baby. Although she has managed to make the best of her situation, some young mothers warn that teen pregnancy can derail one's goals.
"Don't have kids until you're ready," said Liliana Meza, who was 18 when she had her first child. Now 23, she lives at home with her family.
A working mother with two children, Meza is dedicated to giving her youngsters the support they need.
She did not graduate from high school because her pregnancy symptoms were too difficult to deal with in class. She has been the main provider for her children -- the father of her first child left her and the father of her second child moved to Mexico two years ago.
She has worked at a restaurant for the past five years. She plans on getting her GED soon.
While Meza, Karla and Rodriguez either couldn't or didn't pursue an education post-pregnancy, there are some that buck the trend. Joanna Toscano is one of the few that believes she can handle her parenting duties while continuing her education.
Toscano gave birth to her daughter Joselyn when she was 17. She lives with her parents and, unlike many other teen mothers, has extra support from her family. She will attend fall courses at Evergreen College.
"Just because teens are mothers at a young age, they shouldn't stop continuing school," Toscano said.
All of these young mothers say they would like to continue their education and prove statistics wrong. At the same time, none has received any government assistance, another image often associated with teen moms.
"I think I don't need it," Toscano said when asked about applying for welfare.
Rodriguez and Meza also were resistant to the idea of government assistance, even after being told that it might allow them more time to focus on continuing their education.
When told that statistics predicted their children might potentially become criminals and teen parents themselves, the young mothers all lit up with fury.
"Family plays a big part in a child's life," Karla said, explaining how she is not the only one raising her child. The family the child is being exposed to is also helping to raise it.
She believes that children learn everything from their parents at a young age, including violent behavior. One method of prevention, she said, is that parents should never argue in front of a child.
"It's not healthy," she said.
In a study of children of teen mothers, advocatesforyouth.com reports, 17 percent had become teen parents, 25 percent of girls and 11 percent of men. Also, 50 percent were sexually active before age 14, and 41 percent were having sex with out contraception on a regular basis.
"My parents didn't talk to me about sex," Rodriguez said. "So I won't ignore my child when he asks me a question about the opposite sex."
Rodriguez believes that a parent must be comfortable answering children's questions when they ask "How are babies made?" The more parents are prepared, then the less difficult it will be to answer questions.
"I will support my children if they have school activities, plays, concerts, whatever they decide to do, just to show them that I care about their education," Meza said.
By showing that she cares, Meza said, she is sending out the best message to her children about education.
"I want my daughter to be able to trust me," Toscano said.
Toscano wants to create a bond with her child. That way, when her child has questions about sex, Toscano can share her story of being a teen mom.
While all of these young mothers have unique stories, they share one on thing: They all hope to secure a better future for their children. That way, the next generation of leaders will have learned from their parents' experiences.