I met the mother of my child in my freshman year of high school. We fooled around like high schoolers do, and emerged over the four years to become very popular by senior year—without trying, of course. I was a musical performer who made decent grades, and she was a schoolgirl who made above-average grades. By senior year, we thought it was time we made our relationship official.

By that time we were having sex all of the time. We had known each other for all of high school, and we had fallen in love. We were very aware of the dangers of having sex, from how to prevent STDs to not getting caught by our parents. We believed since we knew each other for so long, we didn’t need to use a condom while having sex.

When I found out that she was pregnant, my heart dropped through the floor. I knew I was a very good man that would be a great father to a child; I also know I needed  to be prepared to have one. I was 17, a recent graduate with no job. So I know I was in for it.

Through my days of depression after I found out, I knew I had two options: to be like every other black male in the  'hood and neglect the child, or be a one-in-a-million black male who would man up to the responsibilities and do the things necessary to take care of it. I made a huge shift in my personality to prepare for the birth of this baby.

For the next six months, I made it a daily routine to wake up at 6 a.m. and look for jobs online. By 8 a.m. I was out the door to look for jobs throughout the area. Luckily, I picked up a job that involved mentoring and advocating for youth. By my 18th birthday, I was out of my mother’s apartment and had moved into my own place with my girlfriend.

Being young and immature, combined with her being pregnant, took a toll our relationship. We argued viciously day and night. Tensions ran high almost daily, as she did not know how to control her emotions, and I did poorly responding to her untamed actions toward me. The result was an altercation that led to me serving a couple days in county jail. For several months, I went back to live with my mother.

When my daughter was born on March 11, 2010, we called a truce. We talked out our differences and decided that we will both take part in co-raising the baby.

Royalty is 1 -year old, and she has been raised by both of our efforts to get along and remain a positive role models in her life. Raising her has been a very motivating learning experience. She and I have a relationship that can never be broken.

I raise my daughter because I love her. She has changed me from being a knucklehead into being the person I thought I wouldn’t be until I was, like, 25: A man who handles business and takes care of responsibility. This experience is what I like to call a “Perfect Mistake.” When a mistake is made and can’t be fixed, do your best to make the most positive out of the situation.

I am a living example of how doing so can work in your benefit.