She faced many difficulties along the way, such as balancing her parental duties and academic workload, finding childcare, and coping with financial stress. She also had to deal with the stigma and stereotypes that some people have towards young mothers. However, she persevered and overcame the obstacles with the support of her family, friends, and tutors.

Kay Shanice is not only a proud mother, but also a role model for other young women who want to pursue their education and career aspirations. She hopes to inspire them to never give up on their dreams, no matter what challenges they face.

She said: “I want other young mums to know that it is possible to achieve your goals, even if you have children. You just have to work hard, stay focused, and have faith in yourself. You are not alone, there are people who will support you and help you along the way.”

Kay Shanice intends to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree in psychology. She also wants to work as a counsellor or therapist, where she can use her skills and experience to help others.

She said: “I love psychology and I want to use it to make a positive difference in the world. I want to help people who are going through difficult times, especially young mothers who may feel isolated or depressed. I want to show them that there is hope and happiness in life.”

Montoya Major is another inspiration to many young women who aspire to pursue higher education while raising a family. She is a 23-year-old single mom of twins who graduated with two degrees from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Montoya moved from Alabama to Florida in 2017 to enroll in a dual-degree program that would allow her to earn a bachelor’s degree in cardiovascular sonography and a master’s degree in health science. She was determined to achieve her academic goals, but she faced an unexpected challenge when she found out she was pregnant with twins.

“It was honestly kind of heartbroken,” Montoya told Yahoo Lifestyle. “My ultimate concern was how was I going to finish school and take care of my children.”

Montoya did not give up on her dreams. She continued to attend classes and do her assignments while pregnant, and even after giving birth via C-section. She relied on the support of her father, who raised her as a single parent after her mother passed away, and her family and friends who flew in from Alabama to help her with childcare.

“I always knew I was going to finish on time, I simply just had to plan out exactly how I was going to achieve my goal,” she said.

Montoya’s hard work and perseverance paid off. She graduated with her two degrees in July 2019, while holding her twins in her arms. She also received the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence from her college. Click here to keep reading about Montoya.