ARCHIVES

ARCHIVES

Motherhood instills desire to do better

By Raiza Canelon/Staff Writer/rcanelon@syvnews.com

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Lupita Ruiz graduated a year early from Refugio High School, two weeks before her baby Damien was due so she could spend a year taking care of her child. / Len Wood/Staff

As her peers marked high school graduation by taking trips to Disneyland or elsewhere, Refugio High School senior Lupita Ruiz was celebrating the birth of her son Damian Gonzalez.

“Some girls think their lives are over if they get pregnant during high school, but it’s not. It’s just the beginning,” said Lupita, 16, of Santa Ynez.

Lupita graduated a year early from Refugio and earned straight As. She plans on attending Hancock College in Santa Maria in the fall and earning her degree in criminology.

“When I found out I was pregnant it made me want to do better in school and try harder to get into college. I have never been this happy,” Lupita said as she looked at 2-month old Damian in his carrier seat.

Lori Tullis, principal of Refugio, said Lupita was an excellent student and very mature beyond her years.

“She is a good inspiration for other girls who might be in the same situation. Despite the difficulties of being pregnant in high school, Lupita is very hardworking and she was still able to make good decisions,” Tullis said.

Lupita and her boyfriend Eduardo Gonzalez met through their parents who grew up in the same town in Mexico. Gonzalez moved to the Valley just over a year ago to be close to her. He also plans on attending Hancock College in the fall to complete his general education and decide from there what to pursue.

“Lupita has encouraged me to finish high school and go to college. She is very smart and can do anything she sets her mind to. I am very proud of her,” Gonzalez said.

The pair plan on getting married when she turns 18 and providing Damian with everything he needs.

“We want to teach him he can do anything he wants if he works hard for it. We will support him no matter what,” Lupita said.

Lupita and her classmates will graduate at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Little Theater on the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School campus.