 "Photo: Michelle Davis")
The Multicultural Student Center hosted "Behind the Scenes: Inside my World" with guest speaker Maci Bookout from the MTV series "Teen Mom" in Room 101 of the communications building at 7 p.m. on Monday night. Students were given a chance to learn about Bookout's experiences being on the show and as a teen mom.
MSC invited Bookout to speak for "Week of the Woman," a conference that explores the different aspects of a woman's life and celebrates the multicultural women of UCF.
"Maci immediately came to mind when we were thinking of a keynote speaker to invite. We love her and her son Bentley from watching the show, and she's a student and a single mom," said Whitney Livingston, a senior in interdisciplinary studies and director of MSC.
A majority of the audience in Room 101 was made-up of women, but among the crowd was one of six guys, Matthew Masters Jr., a 20-year-old business management major.
"On the way here my girlfriend told me that there was a basketball game today, but we both enjoy watching the show together," said Masters.
Bookout said she didn't expect the show to become so popular. At first, she thought it was a scam.
"There was an ad on Craigslist that said they were looking for girls to document who had just found out that they were pregnant teens," said Bookout. "My mom actually found the ad, but thought that it was a fake, so she had my dad come with me to make sure I wouldn't be kidnapped."
Bookout's life changed when she became pregnant the night she lost her virginity to her boyfriend.
"I was already eight weeks pregnant when I found out," said Bookout.
Bookout said that she would never wish an unplanned pregnancy upon anyone and since she became a teen mom her life has been busier than the lives of her friends. Bookout said she works full-time and is also a full-time student pursuing her English literature degree.
"My friends didn't have to do the dishes every night and laundry every day," said Bookout. "MTV is my job, but when I go home I still have homework to catch up on and take care of Bentley, who's perfect but wild."
Bookout said that she stared at the text message telling her mother that she was pregnant for 15 minutes before she sent it. Her parents had her brother when they were 17 and had Bookout when they were 20. Bookout said the topic of birth control was never brought up because she never told her parents she was sexually active.
"My parents are so supportive, and if there wasn't such a short period from the moment I had sex to when I became pregnant I would have told my mom and she would have put me on birth control," said Bookout.
Bookout is now 19 and her son is almost three. She said her life is booked from Monday to Sunday. She said class and work occupy her days and chores and Bentley occupy her nights. On Fridays she does 5-hour voice overs for the show and every other weekend Bentley's father has custody.
"I lost my youth," said Bookout. "Just carry a few condoms in your purse or take birth control. Who cares what anyone thinks? Think about what's best for you."
Bookout stayed to answer questions and take pictures with audience members after the event.
MSC will be hosting events for the rest of the week including a belly dance workshop, an empowerment social and a walk against domestic violence. More information can be found on msc.getinvolveducf.com.
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