Board Spotlight: Susan Kelly

In honor of Mother’s Day, YWRC Board member Susan Kelly shares her story and why she supports the YWRC:

My path to starting my family was not one that anyone would likely plan for themselves or their daughters. In a family where almost every woman had gotten pregnant before 20, I was determined to break that cycle. I was hell-bent on “not becoming a statistic,” I remember saying when I was younger, “I’m going to college, getting out of this small town, and making a different life for myself.”  

That said, my mom, who was one of those “statistics,” is the reason I am the way I am. While she had all of us young, she didn’t let that stop her from being the poster child of overcoming adversity and breaking barriers. She was a product of abusive parents, the foster care system, extreme poverty, and teen pregnancy, yet she managed to graduate high school, obtain a college degree, and raise us to be kind, resilient, and driven daughters who always had a soft place to land.   

I learned I was going to be a mother the summer before my senior year of high school, just weeks after receiving my acceptance into art school—my ticket to that big city and big dream that would ensure I had “broken the cycle.” Until that moment, I thought I was invincible. But I wasn’t. I was 17, pregnant by a boy I barely knew, working a $3-an-hour waitressing job. I had no idea what I was going to do, besides knowing that I was going to find a way.  

I was terrified. My parents were disappointed because I was their third daughter making them grandparents again before their 40th birthdays. I was sad for the road I knew I was about to face—not just for me but for my child, as all my plans for my future were now uncertain, and I was subjecting them to that uncertainty.  

The only thing that was certain was the love I already felt for my unborn child, and the fire and grit in me that said it’s going to be okay; it has to be for them. In an instant, my world and my outlook shifted. I was no longer doing any of this for me. I was now truly focused on what the next step in front of me was that would lead to being the best mother I could be for this little one. I immediately went into survival mode, talking to my mom and sisters to find resources. I was extremely lucky to have them. Instead of resenting their path to early motherhood, I was grateful they could guide me through it.  

My sister suggested I talk with my school guidance counselor, telling only her about my situation so she could help navigate the best path for me to finish school. She was kind, understanding, and helped me adjust my schedule to graduate early. She got me in touch with resources in Polk and Warren County for additional assistance with food resources through WIC, clothing and baby supplies from local pregnancy centers like YWRC, and health insurance aid for my unborn child. Programs offered by YWRC ensure that no mother or child has to go without and still knows their worth during their most difficult days.   

I worked hard to keep my pregnancy a secret, not because I was ashamed or sad, but because I needed to protect my mental health and that of my unborn child. The financial and future stress I was facing was already overwhelming; the last thing I wanted was the immaturity of high school classmates festering rent-free in my mind. I had bigger adult problems to solve.

But in a small town, secrets don’t stay hidden for long. The local checkout girl, who took my WIC checks late at night, started talking. People began noticing my bump when they ran into me after I started working at the mall. The few friends who knew couldn’t keep quiet, and soon enough, everyone was talking. By the time everyone knew, I was already out of school. I let the whispers and jokes fuel my fire. I became the butt of my old classmates’ jokes, pretending it didn’t bother me. But it did. These were my friends, or so I thought. Going through this taught me who really mattered and who truly believed in me and my capabilities.  

I had my daughter 18 days after my 18th birthday, and that was it—it was going to be her and me against the world. Not only did my heart grow two times in size that day, but so did my fire to be the best version of myself for her. I returned to my retail job with a doctor’s note in hand just two weeks postpartum, not because I wanted to, but because I knew I had to.

I worked nights and weekends while her father took days so we could hand off between shifts. When we weren’t working, we were fighting. We were young, didn’t know each other, and resented each other for our situation. We tried our best to do the “right” thing but ultimately found that being together was never going to be what was best for her. We brought out the worst in each other. I felt like he hated that I wanted to pursue college (who’s going to watch our daughter?), hated that I wanted to work full-time (who’s going to pay for daycare?), and to be honest, felt like he hated the fact that I was daring enough to dream of doing those things while being a mom. But I was doing them because I was a mom. She was my reason for dreaming and pursuing anything of value in my early adult life.  

At 19, I landed a role working in corporate in an entry-level call center/data entry role—a foot in the door at a company I never knew would shape my entire future. It was in this environment that I found even more women like my mom and me. Goal-driven, working moms pursuing education, raising children, giving back to their communities, and empowering other women to do the same. I found my calling and my passion for helping others in leadership and volunteering through my organization. I just wish I had found that support and network sooner.  

After having Grace at 18, I reconnected with and married my high school sweetheart Chris. We had another daughter, Malia, when I was 21. We were still young, but this time had healthy support and a strong desire to win together. Since then, I worked my way through college, obtaining my bachelor’s degree on nights and weekends (after 10 years of hard work, plugging away) while growing in my career in leadership.

Last year, at 40, I obtained my master’s degree with the goal of leveraging it to give back through educating others at a higher level. And those babies I had so young are now adults. Grace is in her own master’s program working towards becoming a mental health counselor and coaching young girls in cheerleading, and Malia is working towards her bachelor’s to become a teacher and coaching young girls in volleyball—both giving back to others in the most meaningful ways.  

I was fortunate when I became a mom to have a mother, sisters, and a counselor who cared in my corner. Not everyone has that level of support to know where to go and who to turn to. That is why the YWRC is so near to my heart. The programs offered, especially when there is nowhere else to turn for support and guidance, are so necessary for these young women to thrive. We need other people rooting for us, lighting that fire, and simply saying, your dreams are worth pursuing and your story worth writing. This is why I am passionate about helping however I can as a board member of the YWRC.”

Thank you, Susan, for sharing your story and insight, and extraordinary example of resiliency. We are grateful to have you as part of our team. Thank you for being an advocate for our participants and seeing their full potential. We look forward to continuing to work alongside you.