14-year-old girl who dropped out after pregnancy returns to school, graduates from US university at 21.
Rachel Campey, a young woman from Leeds, United States, has triumphed over adversity, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Leeds Trinity University, United States at the age of 21.
Her achievement is even more remarkable considering she dropped out of high school at 15 after becoming pregnant.
Rachel described her journey as “overwhelming,” reflecting on the challenges she faced as a teenage mother, including bullying and mental health struggles. She never imagined she would one day graduate with a university degree.
“I saw Lily-Rose’s face as I put on my gown and cap before the ceremony, and it made everything feel so worthwhile. I felt overwhelming love and pride from my family, my daughter, and myself throughout the day,” Rachel said.
Rachel’s path to success was not easy. She had to leave school at the age of 14 when her school was unable to support her after her pregnancy. She navigated through multiple educational institutions before eventually attending York College and later enrolling at Leeds Trinity University.
Balancing her responsibilities as a single mother, a student, and a part-time worker, Rachel often found herself overwhelmed. She admitted that she had moments of doubt and nearly dropped out of university during her first year.
”I had so many moments in the first year where I didn’t think I could do it, I was walking down the hall crying my eyes out going to drop out of university, thinking ‘this is such a mess, why have I put myself in this situation,” Rachel said.
”But the whole environment at Leeds Trinity was amazing – it was the first time I felt supported in what I wanted to do,’ she said. Rachel credits her six-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose, for inspiring her to persevere.
“If I hadn’t had Lily-Rose, I don’t think I would be here now. She changed my whole perception of life. I was on a very dark path before I had her, and she brightened everything” Rachel said.
The journey to her degree was a shared one. As Rachel worked on her dissertation, Lily-Rose would sit by her side doing homework. During the graduation ceremony, Lily-Rose beamed with pride, even correcting the announcer when they mispronounced Rachel’s surname.
Rachel hopes her story will inspire other young parents and those facing mental health challenges.
“If you’re a young parent or struggling with mental health, it doesn’t mean the end of your goals. You can still work towards them when you’re ready. Just because someone says you can’t do it doesn’t mean it’s true—because you absolutely can” she said.
Rachel’s perseverance and determination have not gone unnoticed. She has been nominated for the Inspirational Individual Award at the 2020 Yorkshire Choice Awards.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue studying or become a public speaker, sharing her story to inspire others.
