Vanessa Bryant has done many things since her birth in 1982, but once Vanessa married her late husband Kobe Bryant, she was propelled into a life of fame. Did Vanessa Bryant have time to further her education after everyone knew who she was?
After graduating from Marina High School with honors, Vanessa Bryant married Kobe Bryant at the age of 18. Vanessa did not continue with her education after getting married, and in 2003, just 3 years after marrying, the couple welcomed their first child.
Armed only with high school education, let’s find out who Vanessa Bryant is, why she never attended college, and how her view of college has influenced her children’s decision to take that next step in their education journey.
Who Is Vanessa Bryant?
Vanessa Marie Laine was born in August 1982 in Huntingdon Beach California. Before being known as Kobe Bryant’s soul mate, Vanessa was a member of St. Boniface Parochial School’s varsity cheerleading team before transferring schools in 1996.
Before graduating from her second high school, Marina High School, the announcement of their engagement broke and the media swarmed the modest school. In what is now seen as a massive violation of a young girl’s privacy, her classmates were interviewed, and ultimately this led to Vanessa being home-schooled for the remainder of her high school career.
At the time, Vanessa was living with her grandparents. After being approached by reporters, her grandfather confirmed that she would be taken out of school due to the notoriety of the engagement, but hoped that the attention would wear off after a while.
Now more than two decades later, the attention is stronger than it has ever been before. Vanessa is a philanthropist, former model, dancer, and co-foundation founder, but most importantly she is a mom to her remaining three daughters; Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.
Why Didn’t Vanessa Bryant Go To College?
Back in 2000, as Vanessa was completing her senior year in high school, she was also one of the most envied women in basketball circles. Being engaged to Kobe Bryant, who was considered the most eligible bachelor at the time, meant that she was constantly hounded by the press and reporters.
The couple enjoyed a short engagement and were married later in 2000. This shot Vanessa into the limelight in a big way, which prevented her from attending college, although there is no confirmation that she had any plans for college if her relationship was not a factor.
Vanessa’s decision as a teen did not influence her and Kobe’s eldest daughter, Natalia, from applying to her top 5 colleges, getting accepted into a few, and choosing to attend the University of Southern California. This made Vanessa happy because her daughter is still close to home.
Which Other Celebs Didn’t Go To College?
The world sees America as the country that goes into debt to go to college. With college being such an integral part of the family values in the USA, it is strange to think that being a success does not always mean that you have to have a degree. These celebs prove that education is only one part of leading a successful life.
Not only did Beyoncé say no to college, but she also dropped out of high school to pursue her career as a member of the girl band Destiny’s Child. As a world-renowned singer, songwriter, and actress, it seems that Beyoncé made the right choice for her walk in life.
Leonardo DiCaprio ditched high school after completing his junior year to focus on his budding acting career. After starring in his first lead role, and then being nominated for his first Oscar and Golden Globe, Leo went on to get his GED.
Whoopi Goldberg did not excel in school. Struggling with dyslexia made her journey through school all the more difficult, and lead to her dropping out of high school in New York City before moving to California and landing her life-changing role in ‘The Color Purple.’
With his first album titled ‘The College Dropout’, Kanye West’s art imitated his life. Even though he received a scholarship, Kanye chose his music career over continuing his education. Kanye’s mother was not pleased with the decision at the time but later said that some career goals don’t require college.