Dim’Mya Norman almost let a pregnancy derail her educational plans when she was 15. Nevertheless, she persisted, and at the age of 17, she now has twins and graduated from high school a year early.
“I’m ecstatic to graduate my junior year; that’s a real big treat for me,” Norman exclaimed to WRTV.
She was able to accomplish this with her diligence and the help of Indianapolis Metropolitan High School (Indy Met), a non-traditional school dedicated to eliminating obstacles to education.
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Norman confessed that when she became pregnant at that young age, she was “shocked and scared.” She even contemplated quitting school altogether.
“I was a freshman pregnant with twins; I felt like a stereotype,” she recounted.
From 2016 to 2023, the birth rate for Black teen girls fell by 34%, reaching 19.3 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 in 2023. Despite this decrease, the birth rate for Black adolescents is still more than double that of White teens, who have a rate of 8.4, according to data from the Congress Government.
The organization also noted that adolescent parents are more likely to earn less money and have less education than their friends without children. Additionally, teen parents‘ chances of becoming financially independent are diminished by lower educational attainment.
Norman, however, found inspiration to persevere after being guided by the team at IndyMet, especially family empowerment coaches, who were dedicated to assisting her in overcoming these issues.
Norman also completed college classes, obtained her QuickBooks certification, and found a job while attending the program, all of which helped her succeed.
“I had thoughts of dropping out, but I’m glad I didn’t,” she said
Indy Met was established in 2004 by Goodwill Education Initiatives Inc. to assist children like Norman who might encounter numerous challenges in pursuing their educational goals.
“We work really hard to help remove those barriers, and so we have an additional initiative and focus on taking care of the student as a whole and providing services that help the family as well,” said Miriam Henry, the regional director for Goodwill Education Initiatives.
The institution provides free daycare for students who are parents, an elective course on child development, and other wraparound services including housing and transportation support.
The course covers the fundamentals of child development. Additionally, it distributes supplies like diapers, wipes, emergency kits, and other necessities, and it brings in volunteers every week to teach parenting classes.
“It’s not easy to come to school and finish graduation period, but to be able to come to school, finish graduation, and have twins along the way,” Henry told WRTV. “It’s not just that she’s survived, but she’s actually thrived, and we are so proud of her.”
Meanwhile, Norman, a 21st-century scholar, received a full-ride scholarship to college. She wants to become a veterinarian and will be attending Ball State University in the fall.
Above all, she hopes that her experience will inspire her twin toddlers and other peers.
