Teens / Peers

All teens need someone to look to and get advice from, friends are a very good source for this but peer pressure can also get in the way...are pressured to do many things that they do not want to do...this pressure is sometimes more than a student can handle, they get the idea that "everyone is doing it, so why shouldn't I?"

Teens need to talk to their friends about the precautions to take if they are sexually active...girls need to use birth control and boys need to be prepared and protected with condoms...teens need to make sure they are prepared both physically and emotionally before they have sex.

Parents/Adults

It wasn't only my mom that influenced most of my decisions, it was my teachers, my church members and close family friends...adults need to stop focusing on themselves and realize that they have a big part to play in every child's life they come in contact with. Even if they don't have children of their own, adults still shape the characters of the young lives around them.

Parents should be more active in their children's lives early on about sex and making healthy life decisions and the outcome if good decisions aren't made...parents should establish a relationship with their teen so the teen knows that they can go and talk to a parent if there is something wrong...

If parents began to monitor their teenager's lives, they could decrease teen pregnancy. Instead of allowing their teens to do whatever they want, parents could ask them about where they've been, make sure they come home at night and get to know their friends...parents should form a committee to increase pregnancy awareness among other parents of teenagers.

Government

The government could make it illegal to sell condoms to anyone under the age of 21...the condom law would empower teens to practice abstinence and to make healthy decisions.

School /Teachers

Students spend most of their day and almost their entire week in a school setting. Therefore, schools have a significant influence on our children...students should not have to assume anything about the risks of pregnancy; the facts should be presented to all students in an informative manner in order to reduce the trend. If school officials would stop worrying about public opinion and start taking a genuine concern for their students, many teenage pregnancies would not occur.

Entire Community

If girls were taught to be ladies, they would carry themselves better and think more of themselves as a jewel to be saved.

The entertainment industry should be more proactive in promoting teen pregnancy prevention...movies, music and music videos all play a role and often they portray a promiscuous and provocative lifestyle. Authors, directors and actors should promote some type of safe sex action whether it is abstinence or handing out condoms.

Virginity and Abstinence

TThough many peers my age and society might judge me for my decision (to remain abstinent), I feel that my choice was the right one. To be able to withstand the pressure to have sex in a world where "sex sells"  makes me proud of myself...

I'm part of a club called TREND (Turning Resources and Energies in New Directions). We go out to different schools and give presentations on topics ranging from drugs to teen pregnancy. It brings me great joy to know that I can make a difference in other people's lives...