The Support to Succeed

As a senior in high school, a pregnant Adriana Vazquez knew she needed help navigating the next nine months (and beyond) as a first-time mom. 

Her school introduced her to the Catholic Charities program called ECHO (Education Creates Hope and Opportunity). Working with pregnant teens and young adults, ECHO helps young parents graduate from high school, as well as get them set up for life as a parent. 

For Adriana, that need was higher than most, as her own mother passed away just a year before.  

“That was a big challenge for me in being a teen mom,” she says. “Seeing her go through her illness, I wanted to learn more about taking care of people and helping them live healthy lives.” 

That inspired her to spend the next four years studying to become a nurse, while raising two kids, working and suffering a miscarriage. During that time, it was ECHO that Adriana turned to for support. 

“They gave me the moral support I needed to get through it all,” she says. “There was someone there to help me when I couldn’t help myself.” 

Eight years later, Adriana looks back at how different her life turned out. Thinking she’d graduate high school and work at a restaurant, ECHO helped her see what more she could do, and fulfill her dreams. 

“I know I want to help new mothers in postpartum care,” she says. A role that was inspired by the support she gained from ECHO.