As Homecoming candidate Ja’Mya Dye stepped onto the football field in her long red dress, her 4-month-old son, Cameron, cried in the stands.

Since becoming a parent in May, Dye has worked to balance the life of a high school student and a parent. She works in plenty of time playing with her son after school while also continuing to dance on the Pom Squad. Homecoming became an extra event that she added to the list of activities in her senior year.

Dye was nervous as she stood on the field, linked arm-in-arm with Homecoming candidate D.J. Davis, waiting in front of the student section with the bright lights of the football field beaming down. Parents and friends took photos and videos, while Dye’s aunt took care of Cameron as he waited in the stands.

“I was nervous because at that point, I didn’t know who was going to win,” Dye said.

Last month, Dye took part in all the Homecoming activities, including filming the Homecoming video, riding in the annual parade on Sept. 21 and dressing up for the football game on Sept. 23. The burst of extra activities began one evening when Dye was at home with Cameron. Her fellow Pom teammates FaceTimed her from a team dinner and told her she was the first teen mom on court.

“I was like, ‘what are you talking about,’ and then they repeated it, and I started screaming,” Dye said.

The honor came as Dye balanced the stress of having a young baby with activities and classes.

“I’m working constantly now,” she said. “I have Pom and school and spending as much time with him as I can… [it’s] a bit overwhelming, but I’m managing.”

She’s learned to ask for help when she needs it. Dye’s mom or her son’s father watches him while she is practicing at Pom. Her aunt or other daycare provider watches him when she is at school, she said.

Some mothers might not come back to school after having a child, but Dye said she wanted to graduate with her friends and stay on track for college next year.

“It was an option for me,” Dye said. “I wanted to come back for myself and graduate with all my friends, and I’m going to college next year. I didn’t want to be one of those statistics.”

Dye watched as senior Hannah Reed was crowned queen that night and said she was just excited to be a part of the Homecoming experience.

“I’m glad to be on court and glad that people at LHS voted for me,” she said. “I just want to have a good time.”