Teenaged mothers who said that at times they "felt like giving up" on their education have battled the odds and graduated with high school diplomas.

Yesterday nine teenagers graduated from the Teen Services Continuing School Tahirah Butterfield, Shampagne Cann, Sophia Greet-Redrobe, Preya Leverock, Brittany Symonds, Antonia Tucker, Ashley Viera, Dishunta Wilson-Saltus and Charhan Burns.

The programme allows young women to get their high school qualifications during pregnancy and after the birth of their child, explained director Michelle Wade. In addition to taking traditional subjects like maths, English, science and social studies, they get one-on-one counselling and take part in support groups.

There is also a day-care programme so mothers can bring their newborns to school with them, up until they are three-months-old.

Miss Burns, 18, admitted she was happy when she got pregnant and believed a baby would make her feel loved. But she learnt the hard way that babies also come with difficulties and demands.

The mother said initially she was lacking family support. A few of those relationships have since healed, but "some wounds remain open", Miss Burns said.

She took it upon herself to finish her education and, while she had to sit the exams five times, can now provide 21-month-old daughter Csaiya with a brighter future.

According to Miss Burns, there were some trying times when she would call home to her mother and cry because she couldn't get her work done.

"At times I felt like giving up," she admitted. But she persevered and plans to study early childhood education at college level.

She said:<\p>"My inspiration (for getting my diploma) was my teacher and my daughter. During our class sessions, my teacher Ms (Michelle) Raynor used to always talk to me about different things, like bettering my daughter's life and giving her the best in life.

"Sometimes I wish I would have waited (to have a child) but now that she is here, I don't regret it because she is making my life a little better.

"Before I used to be involved and hang out with a lot of negative people and I no longer associate myself with negative people, I associate myself with positive people to better my life."

Miss Leverock, 18, told The Royal Gazette that just trying to study and get her work done was a lot harder with a child.

"You know you face people "You know you face people and their judgmental ideas," said Miss Leverock, who had her son Keori two years ago.

"And having a baby with you all the time, especially at a young age when you are new to the experience and (they are) crying, ... it can get pretty hard especially when you do not have the support you need."

Like all the graduates, Miss Leverock worked hard to get her diploma and plans to go on to Bermuda College and become a Police officer.

She said: "I proved everyone wrong, I proved that I can take care of my son at the same time. I am just going to keep working at it until I get myself sorted out and get where I want to be".

For more information on Teen Services and the programmes offered, call 292-4598.