Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Community Partner Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
When I left Big Oak Ranch, I was in ninth grade with big dreams of finishing up high school and, later, attending college. However, during my senior year, I was blessed, but quite surprised, to find out that I was pregnant. It felt like my future took a sudden detour, but I was determined to keep moving forward.
I proudly walked across the field and graduated high school, five months pregnant. My daughter, Addison, arrived in August 2008, which meant I had to postpone starting college until the spring semester of 2009. I enrolled at Southern Union State Community College on a Pell Grant, but like many students, I didn’t take my time there as seriously as I should have. My youngest daughter, Chloey, was born in 2011, and I faced a difficult decision regarding my education. As a single mother without support, I needed to work and care for my children, which meant I had to put my schooling on hold and give up my dream of earning a degree. 
In 2019, I met my very best friend and soulmate. Jaiton and I married in 2021 and started our lives as a family of six. Jaiton encouraged me to start back school, so I eagerly started the process. I was accepted to Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) and started my journey toward my degree. The week before graduation, I had a stole made for my ceremony that proudly declared, “First Generation.” When Addison asked me what it meant, I explained, “I’m a first-generation student so that you don’t have to be.” She smiled, but I don’t think she fully grasped the weight of what I was saying. On May 10, 2025, I graduated AUM with my bachelor’s in communication with a focus on public relations. I did more than graduate that day. I looked up and said “Thank you, God, for my blessing. Thank you for carrying me so many times. Thank you for allowing me to defeat my Goliath.” You know that cliché saying, “If I can do it, anyone can do it”? It really rings true in my life. I’ve faced many challenges, and I’m here to tell you that no matter where you start or what obstacles you face, you can achieve your dreams. Do not let your past control your future.
-Christian
