Teen mum, 16, who was pregnant at 14, faces down critics with BTEC exam passes
A teenage mother who fell pregnant at 14 has worked against negative judgement from her peers and passed three BTECS while raising her now one-year-old son.
Giving birth to her boy in November 2020, Melissa McCabe, 16, from Mersyside, successfully completed three BTECS on the 25th August, this year. After facing significant criticism and prejudice from peers at Ridgeway High School in Birkenhead, she worked through the pandemic studying full time whilst also taking care of her son Arthur.
She now has qualifications in Animal Care, Business and Travel and Tourism. Melissa told the Mail Online: “When I first realised I was pregnant, I was worried my only choice would be to drop out of school to care for Arthur. I decided to continue with education and I'm so happy I did.
Melissa successfully completed three BTECS on the 25th August, this year (Melissa Mccabe)“I'm really proud of myself and my results. There's always going to be a little voice nagging in my head that I could've done better but I've honestly worked so hard to get to this point.I once had a teacher tell me I was never going to make it and that was before I had Arthur, so to prove them wrong has felt amazing!
“I've had adults make snide comments at me, like it's their taxes paying for my son, and that I'm not fit to be a mum. I've stayed in education in order to provide for my son and to make a life for the both of us, and I receive very little benefits. Once I start attending college to study health and social care, I plan on getting a part-time job to help me even more.
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Despite the judgement she received from her peers Melissa said TikTokers have been big supporters (Melissa Mccabe)“People need to start minding their own business and if they don't have anything positive to say, they should keep it to themselves. I'm doing my best to be the best mum, and best person I can be.”
The 16-year-old described the difficulty of studying full time whilst also being a full-time mother, and thanked her brother Kyle 30, and sister-in-law Amy for all their help.
“Once I start attending college to study health and social care, I plan on getting a part-time job to help me even more. People need to start minding their own business and if they don't have anything positive to say, they should keep it to themselves. I'm doing my best to be the best mum, and best person I can be.
“The most support I've had is from people on TikTok. After I took Arthur to prom, my story kind of just blew up on there and I've had people messaging me to say how gorgeous he looks and how great a mum I am. It's been a wild journey but I'm super excited to go to college and see what the future has in store for us.”
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