Electing Success

As a teen mother, Rasheedah Phillips hung on to her aspirations, finding her way to Communities in Schools and the support she needed to graduate. Having completed college, she’s parenting her daughter and attending law school.

Twenty-two-year-old Rasheedah Phillips is a determined young woman who has come a long way since her 2002 graduation from Philadelphia’s Lincoln High School.  She is forever grateful to Communities In Schools of Philadelphia for encouraging her success.  A highly motivated individual, Phillips finished high school as a teen parent and went on to college, completing her undergraduate studies at Temple University in three years.  “It was the most difficult thing I’d ever been through in my life, but it was a good experience,” she said.

Phillips started high school at Washington High School, transferring to Lincoln by the second year.  “I was pregnant my freshman year of high school,” Phillips said.  “While pregnant, I was referred to a special program offered by Communities In Schools.”

Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT) is a statewide initiative of Pennsylvania’s Departments of Public Welfare and Education, and is administered locally as a partnership between the School District of Philadelphia and Communities In Schools of Philadelphia.  Through this program, Teen Parent Classrooms, located in 25 Philadelphia public high schools and two middle schools, provide pregnant and parenting teens with the academic, health and social service supports needed to complete their education and make a successful transition from high school to entry-level employment, additional training and/or post-secondary education.

Phillips said that she isn’t the first person in her family who became a parent early in life.  “I come from a family of teen mothers,” she said.  “It has been a cycle in my family.”

Despite her pregnancy, Phillips had a desire to achieve her dreams of becoming an attorney.  “Before getting pregnant, I had aspirations,” she said.  “But after I got pregnant, I didn’t think I would achieve my goals.  For a year or two, I found it difficult, but then something clicked and I started to do better.  And here I am.”

After Phillips had her daughter, she began to work hard to improve her grades.  “The program has made me a model or example of what teen parents can do to be successful in high school,” she said.

Phillips credits Communities In Schools staff members with helping her move forward in life.  “The counselors and social workers provided a safe place for me,” she said.  “They would continuously encourage me to go to school.”  Through the Communities In Schools program, Phillips also received access to parenting education classes, child care and health care services.

Phillips, whose daughter is now seven years old, recently completed her first year of law school.  “My first year was difficult,” she said.  “No matter what I do, my degree is going to be an asset.  I’ve also been doing a lot of public speaking through community programs, which helps me.”

Over the summer Phillips participated in a summer internship at a public law firm affiliated with Temple University Beasley School of Law.  “When I finish law school, I want to work with families and teen parents.”

Phillips shared the following words of wisdom for teen mothers who know they are destined for greatness, but unsure of their direction:  “Regardless of your circumstances, your goals can be achieved, even if it takes you longer than you hope or expect.  So many teens get discouraged because they think they are not good enough or cannot afford college.  But I try to be an example of how you can use your situation to your advantage.  There are a lot of resources out there for young parents.  You have to work hard and look for them; no one is going to hand you anything.  So many doors are open to you if you go out there to find them.  Whatever you want to do, just do it.”

December 2006