Grinning and barefoot, Brooke Winfield walked across the stage at AIS Diamond High School in Evansville, Ind. to receive her diploma. She had ditched her heels because of the blister they gave her, as well as fear of tripping on stage. But like everything life has thrown at Brooke, she didn’t let it stop her. Brooke’s achievements are impressive for any seventeen-year-old. She finished her high school courses weeks early and completed 9 college credits, all while working as a full-time Certified Nursing Assistant—a job uncommon for most high school students. All of those, however, aren’t what have brought Brooke the most happiness. Her most important title is a proud mother to a two-year-old son, Vincent. “Vincent (has) pushed me to do a lot better for myself and for him. I'm happier, and I can handle stress and problems that come my way a lot easier, because I (think), ‘how would I want to teach Vincent to handle something that comes his way?’”