Life threw Rao Liyan a curveball when she fell pregnant at 19. The then first-year undergrad at the National University of Singapore had been dating her boyfriend for nine months when she made the unexpected discovery, Zaobao.sg reported.
Rao was initially unsure if she was ready to become a mum. But after discussing it with her boyfriend and their respective families, the couple decided to get married and raise their child, a boy, together.
At the time, Rao was just six months into her political science course at the National University of Singapore. She made the decision to switch to doing part-time studies at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, so that she would have more time on hand when her son was born.
Looking back, Rao, now 21, is thankful that she had the support of both sides of the family as well as friends in embarking on her new life as a young mum.
She also shared how the unplanned pregnancy had thrown her for a loop.
According to Zaobao.sg, Rao struggled with the decision as being a mother wasn't part of her life goal, and at the same time, she wasn't sure if she could afford to give her son a comfortable life.