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A Woman Sees Education as a Path to a Better Life for Her Daughter A Woman Sees Education as a Path to a Better Life for Her Daughter
(about 3 hours later)
Much of Kavai Jones’s life has been spent in the Bronx, where she was raised by a single father and with the heavy guidance of her grandmother. Yet, Ms. Jones yearns for a life down South, after getting a brief taste of it twice. Much of Kevai Jones’s life has been spent in the Bronx, where she was raised by a single father and with the heavy guidance of her grandmother. Yet, Ms. Jones yearns for a life down South, after getting a brief taste of it twice.
She spent her freshman year of high school with her godmother in Loganville, Ga. During 11th grade, Ms. Jones attended school in North Carolina, where she lived with an aunt.She spent her freshman year of high school with her godmother in Loganville, Ga. During 11th grade, Ms. Jones attended school in North Carolina, where she lived with an aunt.
“Schools down there are better,” Ms. Jones, 19, said. “I went to school every day, sick, tired, whatever.”“Schools down there are better,” Ms. Jones, 19, said. “I went to school every day, sick, tired, whatever.”
While she was in North Carolina, her father, Kevin Jones, was hospitalized as a result of complications from multiple sclerosis. He was unable to continue to help cover his daughter’s living expenses, forcing Ms. Jones to return to New York and to a school system she described as challenging and full of unengaged teachers.While she was in North Carolina, her father, Kevin Jones, was hospitalized as a result of complications from multiple sclerosis. He was unable to continue to help cover his daughter’s living expenses, forcing Ms. Jones to return to New York and to a school system she described as challenging and full of unengaged teachers.
Four months into Ms. Jones’s senior year at Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy in the Bronx, she became pregnant. Her father was livid, and he kicked her out of their apartment. It is a decision he now regrets.Four months into Ms. Jones’s senior year at Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy in the Bronx, she became pregnant. Her father was livid, and he kicked her out of their apartment. It is a decision he now regrets.
“It was a big mistake on my part,” Mr. Jones said. “I should have had her stay with me. But I was upset.”“It was a big mistake on my part,” Mr. Jones said. “I should have had her stay with me. But I was upset.”
Ms. Jones moved in with her mother, who had never played a large part in her life. She did not stay long and soon moved in with another aunt.Ms. Jones moved in with her mother, who had never played a large part in her life. She did not stay long and soon moved in with another aunt.
Meanwhile, her interest in school dissipated. Mr. Jones had played a key role in his daughter’s education, making sure she went to school every day, even when she claimed to be too sick to go. She would later drop out of school.Meanwhile, her interest in school dissipated. Mr. Jones had played a key role in his daughter’s education, making sure she went to school every day, even when she claimed to be too sick to go. She would later drop out of school.
When she was eight months pregnant, Ms. Jones began a summer internship with the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Drug Prevention Program, a service provided by the Dunlevy Milbank Center. The center provides social, recreational, educational and health programs for children and families in Central Harlem, and is run by the Children’s Aid Society, one of the eight organizations supported by The New York Times’s Neediest Cases Fund.When she was eight months pregnant, Ms. Jones began a summer internship with the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Drug Prevention Program, a service provided by the Dunlevy Milbank Center. The center provides social, recreational, educational and health programs for children and families in Central Harlem, and is run by the Children’s Aid Society, one of the eight organizations supported by The New York Times’s Neediest Cases Fund.
In July 2015, Ms. Jones gave birth to her daughter, Kalaya Brown. Soon after, she moved back in with her father. The presence of a grandchild promoted a conciliatory tone in their home.In July 2015, Ms. Jones gave birth to her daughter, Kalaya Brown. Soon after, she moved back in with her father. The presence of a grandchild promoted a conciliatory tone in their home.
“The baby got born and she won me over,” Mr. Jones said. He added jokingly, “In fact, she can get out and leave the baby.”“The baby got born and she won me over,” Mr. Jones said. He added jokingly, “In fact, she can get out and leave the baby.”
Ms. Jones said she considered going back to school, but her daughter had immediate needs. She decided her time would be better spent working. She received several jobs in retail, which she could not keep for more than a few months at a time, in part because of the demands of being a single mother, she said.Ms. Jones said she considered going back to school, but her daughter had immediate needs. She decided her time would be better spent working. She received several jobs in retail, which she could not keep for more than a few months at a time, in part because of the demands of being a single mother, she said.
In April, Ms. Jones was short on money and returned to the prevention program for help. A caseworker helped her secure $900 from the fund to buy a lightweight stroller, a crib, personal hygiene items, and clothes and shoes for Kalaya.In April, Ms. Jones was short on money and returned to the prevention program for help. A caseworker helped her secure $900 from the fund to buy a lightweight stroller, a crib, personal hygiene items, and clothes and shoes for Kalaya.
Ms. Jones, who is currently unemployed, knows finishing high school is necessary for securing a better future for her family. In an online search about possible careers, she came across information about becoming a midwife.Ms. Jones, who is currently unemployed, knows finishing high school is necessary for securing a better future for her family. In an online search about possible careers, she came across information about becoming a midwife.
“To get to where you want to be in life, you need college,” she said. “I just want to go to college.”“To get to where you want to be in life, you need college,” she said. “I just want to go to college.”
She plans to take a test in December to earn a high school equivalency diploma. Then, she said, she will be able to enroll in college, somewhere in the South. If she gets the urge to give up again, she said, she will not have to look far for inspiration to keep going.She plans to take a test in December to earn a high school equivalency diploma. Then, she said, she will be able to enroll in college, somewhere in the South. If she gets the urge to give up again, she said, she will not have to look far for inspiration to keep going.
“If I get stressed or overwhelmed, I always want to give up,” Ms. Jones said. “Now that I have a daughter, that’s not an option. I can’t give up. So I try to keep myself going.”“If I get stressed or overwhelmed, I always want to give up,” Ms. Jones said. “Now that I have a daughter, that’s not an option. I can’t give up. So I try to keep myself going.”