Graduation Photos

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James Glover II / Star staff Marrisa De La Cruz, 18, of Oxnard kisses her son, Joel Andrade, 15 months, while De La Cruz's boyfriend, Jesse Andrade, watches before the start of the Puente High School graduation ceremony Thursday.

James Glover II / Star staff 6/12/8 OXNARD- Deanna Ayala, 18, of Oxnard holds her three-week-old baby Alexis Monzon before the start of the Puente High School graduation that took place on June 12, 2008 at the Oxnard Community Center,

The crying in the audience at Oxnard's Puente High School graduation ceremony Thursday afternoon wasn't all from parents, siblings and friends. A lot of the crying that filled the Oxnard Community Center was from the baby sons and daughters of Puente's Class of 2008.

Puente High is a program within the Oxnard Union High School District that enables teen mothers to earn high school diplomas. The program includes pregnancy and child care education, and flexibility so the young women can take babies to class.

"Just because you have a child at a young age doesn't mean your education has to stop," said Puente counselor Xochitl Gomez, a Puente alumnus. who became a mother at 16.

The estimated 300 relatives and friends in the audience rocked infant carriers or reached into strollers to soothe infants as their moms sat in two front rows dressed in cobalt-blue caps and gowns.

Each graduate held peach and yellow roses reflective of the school's orange, yellow and blue colors. Just after the ceremony began, the young women were instructed to filter into the audience and present each rose to someone who supported them as they earned their diplomas.

Bianca Flores, 17, of Oxnard strode directly to her father, Javier Flores, and handed him a peach rose. His eyes reddened with tears as they silently embraced in a fierce hug.

The Monday after Javier threw Bianca her quincenera party celebrating her 15th birthday two years ago, she informed him she was pregnant.

"I felt like, her life is over," said Javier, who is divorced from Bianca's mother. "She told me, Dad, can you help me go to school?'"

To complicate matters, Bianca became pregnant again the next year.

Bianca struggled to raise her sons, Alex, 2, and Angel, 1, as she attended Puente. At one point, the burden became too much, and she began failing some classes. She decided to not give up.

"I asked the teachers what I should do and did it," she said.

Bianca plans to become a licensed cosmetologist with hopes of someday opening her own salon. The career goals of the 39 other graduates include pediatrician, lawyer, teacher and medical technician.

Gomez said the tenacity it took for these young mothers to finish school was tested not only by the practical concerns of daily child care and pregnancy, but also by social stigmas.

"The judgment that goes along with it is difficult," Gomez said. "Like, How could you be so stupid?' and What were you thinking?'"

Gomez said she is living proof that these graduates can go on to succeed and act as role models for their children. Gomez will watch her own 18-year-old daughter graduate today from Oxnard High School.