A True Inspiration

How many of us know what osteogenesis impferecta is? Let me rephrase that. How many 19 year olds know what osteogensis imperfecta is? I've came across a few articles and conversations about this 19 year old girl from Ridgewood, Queens, who not only studies the more commonly called brittle bone disease, but is raising a 3 year old, tutoring students and studying physics at NYU!

Layla Quinones has an amazing story to tell after just 19 years in this world. According to the Daily News, this chic was so smart, she was taking Regents classes in middle school! Quinones got pregnant at 16 and forced to drop out of high school. Although pregnancy changed the location, it didn't stop her education. She attended GED classes, all while continuing to work throughout her pregnancy. This is not your typical 16 year old! The Daily News reported that "... she finished the program in 2008 with the highest GED score in the state that year."

Having a child is a life altering experience, at any age. But this girl is living proof that having a child doesn't have to be "life ending." She stayed true to her own passions to learn and her dreams to succeed. She's raising her now, three year old son and finishing her degree at NYU. Quinones' dedication to her education and to her son, combined with her intelligence, allows her to get paid for what she loves! She is actively involved in the CSTEP Program at NYU, which pays her for the research she dedicates herself to.

So next time you have the nerve to say you can't do something, remember this girl. Despite what life threw at her, she handled it and she kept it moving towards her goals. What have you done for yourself?

By Jo Anne-Patricia @MzFilterless
Follow the BlogBot @JoJoSaidIt
News Source: The Daily News
Picture Source: Google Images