A young mother is sharing her cautionary tale with new university students, advising them to be careful when it comes to relationships with their flatmates after she became pregnant and had to drop out of university. Bethany Lee, aged 27, met her now-fiancé David Smith in their halls of residence at the University of Aberdeen in September 2022. The couple quickly began dating and fell in love. Just four months later, in January 2023, Bethany discovered she was pregnant. Despite the surprise, both Bethany and David welcomed their baby boy, Finneas Smith, in September 2023. They made the joint decision to leave university to care for their son and manage their finances.
Bethany reflects on her university experience and the challenges of seeing her friends pursuing typical student activities while she was adjusting to motherhood. Moving back home to Devon to live with her mother, Bethany experienced feelings of loneliness but remains focused on providing a happy life for her son. Now based in Derbyshire, the couple got engaged in July and are balancing work and parenting responsibilities. Bethany works part-time as a dental receptionist and plans to return to university once their living situation is more settled. David, a retail worker, chose to leave his Zoology course to support his family.
While Bethany cherishes the time spent with her son, she acknowledges the financial constraints of parenthood and the desire to provide more for her child. She hopes to finish her degree, buy a house, and potentially expand their family in the future. Despite the challenges, Bethany encourages new students to simply enjoy their university experience but also to be cautious and avoid unexpected pregnancies that can alter their academic path. Bethany’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible decision-making and the impact of unexpected life events on one’s education and future plans.