Graduating high school is a major accomplishment for any teenager. When Madeleine Tarin from Chino Hills, California finally reached the milestone – there was a special way she wanted to celebrate her big day. It involved recreating an old photograph from her childhood that she viewed as an “inspiration.”
18-year-old Madeleine was headed off to college and had a bright future ahead. However, she also had a great appreciation for the life she was given by her parents – who had her when they were just teens themselves.
Madeleine’s parents met when her mom, Jacqueline, was a freshman in high school. She became pregnant at 15 and welcomed a baby girl into the world (with her boyfriend Dario) when she was 16.
Although the couple struggled raising a child while being so young, they stayed in school and never gave up.
She stuck with it and Jacqueline finally reached her own graduation day.
After receiving her high school diploma, she stood with Dario and their toddler daughter for a photograph. Madeleine can be seen sweetly riding on her daddy’s shoulders and Jacqueline’s dressed in her graduation gown.
The photo taken on her mom’s graduation day is one that Madeleine kept in her bedroom.
17 years later, she wanted to recreate it with her parents – who got married in their 20s and went on to have a beautiful and successful life together (including two more daughters).
Madeleine told InsideEdition.com:
“I wanted to recreate it because at the end of the day, I graduated and my parents are so proud of me and I’m so proud of them and everything they’ve done for me.”
On Madeleine’s high school graduation day, she once again climbed aboard her daddy’s shoulders. Only this time, she was the one in a cap and gown. Her mom Jacqueline is proudly standing by their side.
Madeleine decided to share the photos online along with the title, “yeah that’s right, we made it TOGETHER.” Her Twitter post quickly spread like wildfire.
She told BuzzFeed News:
“At first, I just wanted to show my friends and followers I had a story that a lot of people didn’t really know about me and my main motive to why I’ve strived so hard to be successful in high school and will continue to strive in college.”
Love What Matters is one of the publications that shared Madeleine’s heartwarming photographs on Facebook. They also included a story she wrote detailing her parents’ life journey.
The teen began:
“We made it TOGETHER. My mom was 15 while pregnant with me, she had me at 16. My dad was 17. The original picture is from June, 2000. My parents were judged a lot during this time but stayed strong together. They both lived with their parents but were raising me together. They were determined to make it and provide me with a future. My dad worked full time in construction and my mom was still playing soccer. Today, they have a strong, loving marriage. They purchased a beautiful home. My mom is a stay at home mom and my dad has a great career as a longshoreman. I have two little sisters that are following in my footsteps”
She continued:
“The original photo has always been an inspiration to me. I wanted to recreate this photo since the beginning of my senior year but especially after I accepted my offer to college. I also wanted it to be a reflection to show them how far we’ve come together as a family. My parents have always been my motivation to be successful in high school and now strive to do well in college. I couldn’t ask for a more loving, supportive family than the one God gave me. Yeah that’s right, we made it TOGETHER.”
“We made it TOGETHER. My mom was 15 while pregnant with me, she had me at 16. My dad was 17. The original picture is…
Posted by Love What Matters on Monday, June 5, 2017
Love What Matters post alone has been shared more than 26K times. It’s also gathered numerous comments from people who have their own similar stories.
Watch the video below to see Inside Edition’s interview with Madeleine and her mom Jacqueline. Talk about an inspirational story!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
