She was in her third year of college when two lines appeared on a pregnancy test that would change her life forever. Pauleen Halle Ocampo, like many teenage girls who find themselves pregnant, decided to have an abortion because she wanted to graduate.
Ocampo sought the help of a friend, who told her how to terminate the pregnancy.
"I talked to someone na may alam with these things and she's willing to help me kung weeks palang ang baby ko. But aside from sharing information about sa gamot etc, kinwentuhan nya rin ako ng story ng friend nyang nagpalaglag at nung lumabas ang baby nito ay kambal pala at may kamay at paa na. That time naisip kong hindi ko kayang imaginin na makita ang maliliit na kamay at paa ng baby na galing sa tiyan ko," Ocampo said.
("I talked to someone who knows about these things and she was willing to help me if my baby was only weeks old. But aside from sharing information on the medicine, etc, she told me the story of a friend of hers who had an abortion. When the baby came out, she discovered she was carrying twins, and they had feet and hands already. I couldn't imagine seeing the small hands and feet of a baby that came from me.")
Ocampo decided right then and there to keep the baby
Today, Ocampo is a proud mother of a little girl, who has inspired her to do her best. Ocampo not only earned a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Financial Management. She has awarded herself the latin honors of 'magna cum laude', for triumphing over seemingly insurmountable odds.
Ocampo narrated her pregnancy story in a Facebook post, where she had strong messages for women her age and who find themselves in a similar situation. These are the lessons she learned through her pregnancy:
You reap what you sow
Pauleen had a baby before she was ready. And she had to go through a lot of things as a result of that.
But just as Pauleen had to face the consequences of her decision to engage in premarital sex, she also reaped the benefits of her hard work. She graduated and even had a "part-time" job in the form of her OJT.
Abstain
Pauleen wishes to spare other young girls from the trials that she had to face. Her advice to them? Abstain.
Your baby is a blessing and source of joy
Wise beyond her years, Pauleen also addressed other teen moms who may be thinking of having an abortion.
"...sa mga babaeng buntis na at nagbabalak namang ilaglag ang baby sa tiyan nila, wag nyo po yang ituloy," she wrote.
("...to the pregnant women who are thinking of getting an abortion, don't go through with it.")
"Andyan na yan. At sobrang sarap po maging nanay," she also said.
("It's already there. And it feels so nice to be a mother.")
Pauleen recalled the first time she saw her baby through an ultrasound. She saw her tiny feet and hands, and fell in love with her baby.
"I was so happy when I saw her. And even though I did not know what would happen to us, it didn't matter," she said in the vernacular.
Read on to find out how Pauleen told her family about her pregnancy
Turn to family
Though it was difficult for Pauleen and her boyfriend to tell their families that she was pregnant, they could not hide it for long. Pauleen is grateful to her family for helping her through the pregnancy and continuing to support her studies.
Surrender all to God
"That time, I couldn't do anything except pray to the Lord to take control of my delivery, of my [thesis] defense, and of the health of my baby," Pauleen said in Taglish. Pauleen drew strength from the Lord even when her due date, midterms, and thesis defense all coincided.
Push your limits
A week after giving birth, Pauleen had to be ready for her thesis's final defense. Two weeks later, she was back in school. For Pauleen, it is just a matter of getting on with your life--a piece of advice a family friend gave her.
Congratulations, Pauleen!
READ: Teen mom Emjhei Guerrero earns college diploma thanks to her baby girl
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