The Herald Online

Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Kayla Paine Deidre Cassel is already making plans to continue her education at ASU. She's been looking into getting financial aid and moving into Indian Village.

College freshmen dove into a new life when they arrived at ASU this fall. Trials have arisen, new relationships have been made and these students soon realized that college life isn't the way it is in movies.

Freshman Deidre Cassel was ready to be involved and get all that she could out of college; she never expected to be pregnant.

Cassel came from Charleston, Mo. to get her business degree at ASU. Planning to be involved in student organizations and contemplating joining a sorority in the spring, she had many ambitions to leave her mark on campus.

But in the early fall semester, Cassel found that she was pregnant and everything changed.

"I was really scared and shocked, I felt like my whole life was messed up," she said. "Honestly, my worst fear was how I was going to tell my mother."

Not knowing what to do, abortion was an option that Cassel considered.

"After thinking about the whole thing, I realized that it wasn't the baby's fault," she said. "I have my life and my baby deserves a life as well."

Finding out about the pregnancy was hard for both Cassel and her mother. Her mother was in shock and cried a bit, but, when they both heard the heartbeat of the baby, everything became real. Cassel has been experiencing mood swings, morning sickness and doesn't have the same motivation to go and do things that she used to.

"It's been hard with all the appointments and this whole pregnancy thing, but I'm determined to get through this year," she said.

Knowing that going home isn't an option available to her, Deidre has already been planning for next year so she will be able to be with and provide for her baby. She has already applied to live in Indian Village and will be making an appointment with her financial aid adviser to get any help available to her.

"Whatever it takes for me to get through school, I'll do," she said.

Her backup plan is to enlist in the U.S. Army.

To take care of another life is a huge responsibility.

"I think the biggest struggle for me right now is to even fathom being a mother," Cassel said. "Yeah, I'm nervous about getting through school, but being a good mother is more of a priority for me."

Cassel is facing a struggle that many freshmen are not, but for anyone who may be going through something unexpected, she has advice.

"People who face unexpected issues need to make their own decisions and think long and hard about them because they'll have to live with what they decide to do," she said. "It's a long journey ahead."

Her due date is May 15, 2010.

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