Student seizes life's opportunities
Campus Times
April 12, 2002
At 12:25 a.m. on Nov. 29, the life of Angelique D'Silva changed forever
when her daughter Madalyn was born. Weighing in at 17 pounds and 5 ounces,
Madalyn, has become the highest priority to D'Silva's life. D'Silva, a double
major in journalism and political science, now runs a schedule of school
in the morning and spending time with her baby at night while her boyfriend
goes to school. She hopes to pursue a career in law after graduation.
Twenty-one-year-old Angelique D'Silva balances being a full-time student
and a full-time mom.
D'Silva is a senior journalism and political science double major.
For the past four months D'Silva has learned to balance school and her
time with her 4-month old daughter, Madelyn Elena Williams, who was born
Nov. 29, 2001, at the Pomona Valley Medical Center in Pomona.
D'Silva started at ULV in the fall of 1998, and it was not until 2001,
her junior year, that she became pregnant with her daughter.
With the decision to have the child, D'Silva became even more motivated
to complete school. She said that being pregnant did not discourage her
in any way.
She worked hard and pushed herself even more to set her goals, not just
for herself, but for her daughter as well.
D'Silva admits that her family was disappointed about her pregnancy
while she was only 21 and still in school. Her parents had hoped she would
not have a child after she finished school, she said.
However, once she made her decision, her parents were supportive, she
said.
D'Silva comes from a large family. She is the second child of six children,
and her family has always emphasized the importance of education, she said.
At the time of her pregnancy and as her due date approached, the professors
at ULV made accommodations for her. They worked with her schedule, and were
able to provide homework and pre schedule tests for her.
"The teachers were real supportive,"D'Silva said.
In addition to being a full-time student, D'Silva is also a member of
the Sigma Kappa sorority.
Although she is active on campus, she is not an active member of Sigma
Kappa .
Unfortunately, because of her busy schedule, she is not flexible enough
to participate and be active in the events like other members of the sorority.
Along with the support of family, friends and professors, D'Silva also
receives the full support of her boyfriend Ordell Williams, father of her
daughter.
Williams, an alumnus of ULV, graduated in 1999 and currently works as
a Program Director for Hillside Homes in Pasadena.
D'Silva said he is a "very supportive and confident father."
"He helps me out a lot with our daughter; he's a good daddy,"
she said.
D'Silva, Williams and their child currently live together in Pomona.
While D'Silva attends classes, Williams is at home taking care of Madelyn,
and when he is at work, she stays at home with their daughter.
Since she attends school during the day and he works at night, everything
balances out.
"It's all a matter of appropriating your time. If you really like
something or want something, it's not to difficult to achieve,"D'Silva
said.
With her fluency in Spanish D'Silva is teaching her daughter to speak
Spanish along with English. (She is also teaching Williams to speak the
language.)
Right now D'Silva is looking toward post term goals following her graduation
from ULV in May.
She plans to go to graduate school at USC, the Claremont Colleges, Cal
Poly Pomona or possibly ULV, depending on which one provides the most money
for her graduate studies.
After graduate school she plans to follow in her dad's footsteps and
attend Loyola Marymount University's Law school.
Her ultimate career goal is to become a corporate attorney.
"Now that I have a baby I'm learning how to situate my time with
a baby and with my study time and it's all worth it," D'Silva said.
