Pursuing My Education At Howard As A Young Mother

Hi, my name is Aniya Majors-Rivera.

I am a sophomore at Howard University majoring in biology with a minor in criminology. My story is not your average story. In June 2021, I found out I was pregnant. Being a full-time student at Howard, the nation’s top HBCU, and pregnant, I just did not know what to do. I wanted to still be a student, but I also wanted to be a young mom and show that being a mom while in school is something that can be done.

As the months went by, many people told me I could not do both. I would not be able to return to Howard with my full financial aid and scholarships, and the fall semester starting back up soon. In my mind, I knew I could do it, but understanding how to do it was much harder. When the semester started, much of the financial assistance I was receiving got cut off. Not everybody was supportive of my desire to keep the baby and stay in school, so at the age of 19, I was forced to become entirely independent. I had to take matters into my own hands and show what I was capable of.

When the fall semester started, I was five months pregnant but did not want to take a leave of absence from Howard. I decided to move into my dorm and continue with my regular student life: walking to class, enjoying my friends, and the motivation I was receiving from professors and classmates. The programs Howard decided to start, such as “Mothers of the Mecca”, while I was going through the exact situation that many mothers were going through, it was like I fit right in.

Everything was going well until I noticed that for the following semester (spring 2022), I had a hold that I could not pay. This hold prevented me from registering for my classes and I knew that I could not create $22,000 in less than 3 months, so I ended up withdrawing from the fall after talking to my advisor and figuring out exactly what I could do.

With the new year starting, there were many wishes I had and goals I had to accomplish. I decided to leave everything in God’s hands, and on January 2nd, I saw an Instagram post that would change my life. Shy Odom, a freshman basketball player at Howard, made a post in regard to their team's social justice project centered around Black Maternal Health advocacy. I had to reach out and ask what the team planned to do for mothers right here on campus. The following day, Coach Daniel Marks reached out to learn about my situation and try to understand how the team could best help.

Coach Marks told me to come to DC for their MLK Day game on January 16th vs Morehouse College where they would recognize the mothers of Howard. The only issue is that my c-section was scheduled for January 20th! I did not know if I could make it physically, but something told me I had to be there, not just for myself but for all the women at Howard struggling with balancing motherhood and their education. I know many who either gave up their child or withdrew from school because the thought of doing both was too daunting.

On January 16, I finally made it to DC, starting with a team shootaround at 2 pm. As I arrived, the greetings, congratulations, and support from the men's basketball team as well as the motivational words from their partners at Mamatoto Village, it felt like something special was coming my way. I wasn’t sure exactly what but with media interviews, and NBA players in the building, I knew something was up. Just before halftime, I was told I had to be moved to the floor because a recognition for young mothers was going to be announced. As the timeout buzzer sounded, I was very anxious. The gym was full, and not just full but overflowing beyond maximum capacity, to the point where no one could come in. As my name was announced on the microphone by Coach Marks, I was told I had received a $7,500 scholarship to continue pursuing my education at Howard from the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards.

The $7,500 is a start but I still have roughly $14,000 needed to get the hold off my account which will allow me to re-enroll in classes and re-apply for my scholarships and financial aid moving forward. My education is so important to me and with my baby arriving on January 20th, 2023, completing my education is the only thing on my mind. Many people continue to say that I won’t be able to do it at Howard with a newborn and my family back in Delaware, but Howard University is my home. The family I have created there, including my new family with the Men’s Basketball program, is the type of supportive environment I want my daughter to grow up in.

When I come back to Howard, I am not just doing it for the two of us but for every woman who is afraid to pursue all their dreams. For the women who aren’t comfortable sharing their stories and their struggles. I want them to take strength from my journey and find that within themselves.

Thank you for reading my story, and I hope that you find it within your heart to help me return home to Howard.