Just three weeks after giving birth, I graduated from college, never imagining that only months later I would stand before the California Assembly Health Committee as a member of the California Family Council team, opposing legislation that pushes abortion pills into community college health centers. Because students like me don’t need more abortion access. We need support, resources, and hope to choose life.
I know firsthand: when women are given real help, real resources, and real encouragement, they are capable of far more than we often give them credit for. And surprisingly, as I shared my personal story with legislators, a real debate broke out regarding why California colleges offer endless information about abortion and STI Treatment, but almost nothing for pregnant students who want to have their babies.
Isn’t it just like God to take the hardest times in our lives and turn them for good?
My Full Story
I was in the first semester of my final year of college when I found out I was pregnant. My husband and I had just gotten married. We were big dreamers with plans to travel, build our careers, and chase opportunities before starting a family. On top of this, I was preparing for a summer internship in Washington, D.C.
But at the same time, life felt unstable. My husband had just experienced a falling out with his job, so we were DoorDashing to make rent. I was taking five classes, working on campus, and deeply involved in student organizations.
A baby was not part of the plan.
I wish I could say I was overjoyed when I saw the positive test result. The truth is, I was terrified. Every lie our culture tells women came rushing into my mind: that motherhood would end my dreams, that I couldn’t have both a career and a child, that my future was slipping away. I even found myself thinking I could be nothing more than a mom, as if that were something to fear.
I remember sitting with that reality, telling myself, “This must be a bad dream I’ll wake up from.” Even after hearing my baby’s heartbeat for the first time at the pro-life Choices Pregnancy Center, I thought, “Yes, I want to be a mom, but not now. Not at 21.”
In that place of fear, I was reminded of truths I desperately needed: that fertility is a gift not everyone is given, that I had a husband and family who supported me, and that becoming a mom didn’t mean surrendering my dreams.
Those reminders were necessary, even for someone like me, who had always believed life begins at conception. In that moment of fear, I quietly wished it weren’t true.
The early weeks were hard. I dragged myself to class and work, surviving on avocado popcorn and ginger candies. When I went to my campus health center for help, I was told there wasn’t much they could do for me.
The Turning Point: When Support Met My Crisis
Everything began to change when I walked into a pregnancy center.
They met me in my overwhelm, not with pressure, but with compassion. They reminded me I wasn’t alone, that I had support, options, and a future. And they proved it through real care.
They provided free ultrasounds and medical screenings, helped me navigate school with notes for my professors, connected me with affordable care, and guided me through programs like WIC. They even supplied baby essentials at no cost.
For the first 14 weeks, I experienced something new: peace. Not because life was perfect, but because I wasn’t facing it alone. Surrounded by other women in similar situations, I realized I wasn’t the only one balancing school, uncertainty, and pregnancy.
Most of all, it was the people, the steady encouragement and constant reminder that I could finish college and become a mother. That support changed everything.
From Fear to Fulfillment
Today, I’m holding the very blessing I once feared. I finished my degree just three weeks after my baby was born, and I now work a job I love. Nothing in my life is more meaningful than being a mom.
During that time, I prayed God would use my story to show other young women that choosing life is possible, even when it feels overwhelming or unplanned.
Why I Spoke at the AB 2540 Hearing
So last week, I did just that.
In the Assembly Health Committee hearing for AB 2540, I shared my story, urging lawmakers not to promote the narrative that women must choose abortion to complete college, but instead to invest in real support: pregnancy centers, adoption, safe surrender, childcare, and resources for student parents.
To my surprise, the committee was rattled. There was visible tension and active discussion among legislators, something rare on the abortion issue.
“Nothing is going to stop me from doing everything I can to make certain that reproductive health care is available to every woman… no matter where they attend their university,” said Author Asm. Stefani, Catherine (D-19)
Legislators continue to frame abortion as “reproductive care,” implying it is the best option.
“What about people who want to keep their babies?” Assemblyman Joe Patterson asked, pointing out that while campuses offer abortion services, pregnancy testing, and contraceptives, there is little support for women who choose life.
“You can call Planned Parenthood and get a medication abortion sent directly to your doorstep, so what gap is this bill solving?”
The reality is, California does not lack abortion access—it is widely available. The real gaps are in support: affordable housing, accessible childcare, and connections to medical care for pregnant and parenting students.
The Narrative We Must Confront
During the hearing, Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo acknowledged that financial insecurity is a leading reason women seek abortion. I understand that fear. I lived it.
But financial instability is not permanent. If we base a child’s value on financial readiness, no one would ever have children.
Assemblymember Mia Bonta also shared her experience of having an abortion in college and later carrying a pregnancy in law school. In her own words, she had access to full prenatal care and support later in life—and that difference matters.
It shows that when real support exists, women can choose life even in demanding circumstances. Often, decisions are shaped more by fear and perceived instability than true inability. When women have clear information and support, they are empowered to choose differently.
A Final Word
If my story has taught me anything, it’s this: fear is powerful, but it is not final.
Women are far more capable than they are often told. Motherhood and ambition are not mutually exclusive, and difficult beginnings do not determine the end of the story.
That is why I spoke at AB 2540.
