While the majority of Crystal Travers' friends spend their weekends at parties and at the mall, the 18-year-old spends them with her daughter. In fact, she spends every chance she gets with her.
When Travers was 14 years old, she found out she was pregnant.
"I was into bad things. Drugs, drinking, you name it," she said. "By the time I was 15, I was a mom. And I didn’t know what I was doing."
When Travers’ daughter, Destiny, was born, Travers was living with her biological parents in Annandale. Despite the fact she gave birth to a healthy baby girl, the teenager continued to drink, smoke and party.
"I was out of control and I didn’t plan on stopping anytime soon," she said.
Despite a rocky beginning, Travers, who now lives in CountrySide, will be graduating from Dominion High School, June 22 and her daughter will be in the audience.
TRAVERS' JOURNEY to change began after one long night of partying in April 2004, Travers returned to her house to find it surrounded by cop cars, flashing lights and blaring sirens. The officers deemed Travers’ environment an unfit one for a newborn.
"When I found out my daughter was gone, I fell to the ground. I couldn’t breath," she said.
Travers said the police officers gave her two options, to stay at home with her family or to go with the officers and her daughter.
"I chose to go with my daughter," Travers said.
But she didn’t get to see her daughter right away. Travers was taken to an alternative house, and Destiny was placed with a foster family in Ashburn.
For nine months, Travers learned to cook and clean. She was allowed to see Destiny on a limited basis, at the alternative house. When Travers heard Destiny call her foster mother "mom," she said she knew she had to get her act together.
"It finally clicked," she said. "I knew I wanted to be a parent. I wanted to be her mom."
IN JANUARY 2005, Travers was placed in foster care. She moved in with Shelly Khuns in CountrySide.
"I always wanted to be a foster parent," Khuns said. "And I always wanted to help teenage girls in these kinds of situations."
Travers said Khuns helped shape her into the mother she is today.
"Shelly has taught me so much. I really respect her," Travers said. "She is a great role model. I can’t thank her enough for showing me the right way to do things."
When Khuns met Travers for the first time, she said she noticed something about her.
"She was determined to get her daughter back," Khuns said. "She was extremely patient, too."
For months, Travers said she had to prove herself to everyone including Destiny. She was only allowed to see her daughter during supervised visits and had to participate in home-based counseling sessions.
"It was all worth it," she said.
Travers gained custody of Destiny in July 2006.
TRAVERS' DAY BEGINS at 5 a.m. She has one hour to take a shower, blow dry her hair and apply her makeup. By the time she finishes applying her mascara, it is time for Destiny to get up.
She dresses her, feeds her and walks her to the bus stop. As soon as the bus driver picks Destiny up, Travers races back to her foster parent’s house, tidies up the kitchen, packs her bag and heads to school.
"I get to school by 8 a.m.," Travers said. "That way, I can get some last-minute things done before school starts at 9 [a.m.]."
Sarah Lewter is Travers’ English teacher.
"She is a very conscientious, dedicated student. Always completes her work on time and never complains," she said. "She has every reason to complain, but she never does."
While she is in class, Travers said she tries to focus on her studies, but by the time the final bell rings, she is out the door to meet her daughter at the bus stop.
Travers plays with Destiny for about an hour. Dinner is served at 5 p.m. After dinner, Travers plays with Destiny some more. They read books or play dolls. Then, it’s time for Destiny to go to bed.
Only after the 4-year-old falls asleep, Travers gets to start her homework.
"Sometimes, I have to remind her to breathe. Breathing is big around here. Kids are a lot of work," Khuns said. "You gotta just roll with things sometimes."
"Before you know it," Travers said, "it’s 10 o’clock and time for me to go to bed."
EVERY NOW and then, Travers said she thinks about her friends in Annandale.
"I’ve lost friends to gang-related violence, suicide. I could’ve been one of those people," she said. "Being a teen mom really does suck sometimes. But I really do think it saved my life."
Travers plans to walk across Dominion High School’s stage Friday, June 22.
"She’s only 19," Lewter said. "She’s a good mother. I can’t put into words how proud I am of her."
Travers will attend Northern Virginia Community College’s Loudoun campus in the fall to pursue a nursing degree.
"I want to be a nurse. I think Destiny has a lot to do with that," she said. "The challenges you face determine your life. Destiny saved my life."