My abortion was during my first semester in college. I knew something was wrong as soon as my period was late, and once the days added up to a week I took 3 tests which all came up positive. It was the 3rd positive that left me sobbing in the communal bathroom of my dorm building, panicking about how a broke 18 year old could possibly manage to afford an abortion. I made my appointment at Planned Parenthood, and 2 days later I had a medical abortion. The Advils they advised me to take beforehand really did help, and I didn’t feel any pain at all.

To this day, I am so grateful for the staff at that Planned Parenthood. They truly cared about me and making sure they did everything in their power to help me feel better and make sure there was a way to have insurance alleviate the costs. I will never forget my experience there and the people who helped confirm that this decision was without a doubt the right one for me. I also couldn’t have gone through this experience without the close friends I chose to confide in, who passed no judgement and always made sure my happiness was a priority.

As of right now, I’m looking into making an appointment for my second abortion. When I found out that this was happening again, I kept asking “why me”? I felt scared and ashamed. I am so thankful for coming across this page and the other amazing people who’ve shared their stories. Because of this, I feel strong and supported in my decision. I know that these abortions are what’s right for me. I’m in college working towards a master’s degree. I grew up watching my single mother struggle just to get by and all the sacrifices she’s had to make just to keep a roof over our heads. While I admire and appreciate her strength, I know that this is not the life I want for my child. I want to have children when I have the means to be the absolute best mother I can be.

I hope my story can help someone out there. Use this support system to feel strong in your decision!