Hey Joe,
During Thanksgiving break I was hanging out with some friends and all of a sudden they started smoking pot right in front of me. They were all passing it around and they totally wanted me to try it. But when it came to me I got really nervous and said no. I felt kinda bad because they were all making fun of me, but I just told them I had really bad asthma and couldn’t be around stuff like that. I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t want to try it because I know that kind of stuff is bad, but at the same time I felt pretty lame because they were being so mean to me about it. Now that we have been back in school, they all keep making fun of me and telling me how lame I am for “being so uptight” and not trying it. I know it’s bad and I don’t want to try it, but what should I do? I don’t want my friends to keep making fun of me.
Sincerely,
Frustrated Friend
Dear Frustrated Friend,
Well first things first – good job! It takes a very mature and strong person to resist peer pressure and stand up to your friends, but you did it. That says a lot about your character. As for your friends, well let me just say that with friends like that, who needs enemies?! They are NOT really your friends because real friends would respect your decision for not wanting to try it. You should probably – no, definitely start hanging out with different people in your school. Drugs are not only “bad” as you say, but they are also illegal. So that means you could get into some major trouble if you are caught with it. Even though you haven’t actually smoked it, just being around people who do could still get you into some big trouble. It seems that everyone thinks marijuana is not really a big deal anymore, but research proves that even short-term use causes problems with memory, learning, cognitive development and problem solving. Also, smoking one joint is the equivalent to smoking about four cigarettes. So…start hanging out with a different crowd ASAP!
You are obviously a person with good morals, which probably means you have been raised very well. This would be the perfect opportunity for you to really talk and open up to your parents or a trusted adult. Trust me, even though parents and adults may seem like they are nervous about talking to you about that kind of stuff, they really do want to talk to you about it. Sometimes they just don’t know how to approach their teens about issues like that. But if you go to them first and you are honest, they will understand and they will help you. They can give you advice on how to deal with those so-called friends, and they can even point you in the right direction of hanging out with different friends. You are an intelligent person so surround yourself with other people who are just as intelligent as you and who DON’T do drugs!
Join the Majority - WAIT
Joe
Monday, December 1, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
P.A.P.A.
P.A.P.A., or the Parenting and Paternity Awarness program, is about to be required in all Texas school districts. The program will be implemented in all high school health classes starting this school year, and it will consist of curriculum that covers topics like responsible parenting, a basic understanding of paternity and child support laws and skills for healthy relationships. It stinks that this is what the education system has to do to teach teenagers about pregnancy, but hopefully it will show them that they are definitely not ready for such a major responsibility and it will start preventing teen pregnancy!
Check out more information about P.A.P.A.
Check out more information about P.A.P.A.
Monday, July 28, 2008
New ABC Family TV Show - The Secret Life of the American Teenager
ABC Family's, The Secret Life of the American Teenager is a good show that portrays perfect examples of the real problems teens today deal with, and the consequences of making unhealthy decisions.
This campy teen drama explores the love lives and relationships of a group of high school students. Front and center is Amy, a “good girl” who got pregnant when she had sex for the first time over the summer and has yet to tell her parents about her condition. Ben is the boy who has a crush on her - but is not the one who got her pregnant. That would be Ricky, who is now hooking up with Adrian - a girl with a reputation who is starved for attention. Jack and Grace are the classic football star/cheerleader couple and they’re also committed to abstinence. Except that Jack kissed Adrian and Grace found out so now they’re dealing with the aftermath of that betrayal.
The show airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m./7 p.m. central, and you can take a look at the ABC Family Web site which has a lot of interactive material about the show. Another cool site is stayteen.org, so check it out!
This campy teen drama explores the love lives and relationships of a group of high school students. Front and center is Amy, a “good girl” who got pregnant when she had sex for the first time over the summer and has yet to tell her parents about her condition. Ben is the boy who has a crush on her - but is not the one who got her pregnant. That would be Ricky, who is now hooking up with Adrian - a girl with a reputation who is starved for attention. Jack and Grace are the classic football star/cheerleader couple and they’re also committed to abstinence. Except that Jack kissed Adrian and Grace found out so now they’re dealing with the aftermath of that betrayal.
The show airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m./7 p.m. central, and you can take a look at the ABC Family Web site which has a lot of interactive material about the show. Another cool site is stayteen.org, so check it out!
In the Know Joe - WTW's Advice Column 4 Teens
Hi Joe,
So, I’m a little worried and I have nobody else to turn to. I’m 15 and I’ve had the same boyfriend for about two years. We started having sex almost a year ago. Everything has been fine and great, but then a few months ago I was starting to break out in a rash. Just so you know it’s not anything too horrible, it just kind of comes and goes. But then in school I kinda remember them telling us that if we have any kind of symptoms of an STD at all that we should get checked out. Do you think it is something minor and that I can keep waiting to see if it goes away, or do you think I need to go ahead and get it checked? I also kind of want to ask my boyfriend if he has noticed anything about himself, but I’m way too embarrassed. What do you think?
Thanks,
Hesitantly Waiting
Dear Hesitantly Waiting,
Well…YES, you need to get that checked! Even if it is just a minor rash, it could still very likely be an STD. And about asking your boyfriend, YES, you should ask him because as long as you’ve never had sex with anybody else, that means he probably HAS. AND, he gave it to you! So I would ask him.
STDs are not something to play around with. They have very harsh consequences, both physically and emotionally. Physically, if you don’t get checked and get treatment ASAP, it could cause you to be infertile or have other major problems as an adult. How would you like to find out right before you get married that you have AIDS, just because you chose to have sex with your boyfriend as a teenager? As for the emotional aspects, what are you going to do when you get married and have to tell your husband that you can’t have his babies, just because you started having sex with your boyfriend when you were 14?! Seriously, STDs are serious! Right now, 1 in 4 teens have an STD, and 1 in 2 sexually active teens have an STD. That’s HALF of all sexually active teens who will have contracted a disease by the end of this year.
So even though you get checked out doesn’t mean that you can jump right in and start having sex again. Think about all these consequences, which obviously outweigh the momentary pleasure. The only 100 percent, guaranteed way for you to avoid the consequences is to remain abstinent. So respect yourself and make the right choice!
Join the Majority – WAIT!
Joe
So, I’m a little worried and I have nobody else to turn to. I’m 15 and I’ve had the same boyfriend for about two years. We started having sex almost a year ago. Everything has been fine and great, but then a few months ago I was starting to break out in a rash. Just so you know it’s not anything too horrible, it just kind of comes and goes. But then in school I kinda remember them telling us that if we have any kind of symptoms of an STD at all that we should get checked out. Do you think it is something minor and that I can keep waiting to see if it goes away, or do you think I need to go ahead and get it checked? I also kind of want to ask my boyfriend if he has noticed anything about himself, but I’m way too embarrassed. What do you think?
Thanks,
Hesitantly Waiting
Dear Hesitantly Waiting,
Well…YES, you need to get that checked! Even if it is just a minor rash, it could still very likely be an STD. And about asking your boyfriend, YES, you should ask him because as long as you’ve never had sex with anybody else, that means he probably HAS. AND, he gave it to you! So I would ask him.
STDs are not something to play around with. They have very harsh consequences, both physically and emotionally. Physically, if you don’t get checked and get treatment ASAP, it could cause you to be infertile or have other major problems as an adult. How would you like to find out right before you get married that you have AIDS, just because you chose to have sex with your boyfriend as a teenager? As for the emotional aspects, what are you going to do when you get married and have to tell your husband that you can’t have his babies, just because you started having sex with your boyfriend when you were 14?! Seriously, STDs are serious! Right now, 1 in 4 teens have an STD, and 1 in 2 sexually active teens have an STD. That’s HALF of all sexually active teens who will have contracted a disease by the end of this year.
So even though you get checked out doesn’t mean that you can jump right in and start having sex again. Think about all these consequences, which obviously outweigh the momentary pleasure. The only 100 percent, guaranteed way for you to avoid the consequences is to remain abstinent. So respect yourself and make the right choice!
Join the Majority – WAIT!
Joe
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Baby Borrowers
The following is a brief about a new reality TV show on NBC called, The Baby Borrowers, which airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
I think it's definitely a show that all teens need to watch. It is a great example of reality, and if teens are having sex they must definitely know the consequences that they could suddenly face. Maybe this show will make teens start thinking twice before rushing into sex! Remember, the consequences ALWAYS outweigh the momentary pleasure!
Can teens be good parents? That's the big question raised by NBC's The Baby Borrowers as five teenage couples take part in a reality TV social experiment that lets them experience life in fast forward. They are given nice homes and a brief parenting class, and then real life babies to care for thanks to volunteer parents (some of whom were teen parents themselves).
The teen couples quickly learn what it means to be responsible for a child as well as go to a job every day and sustain relationships with their partners. After a few days with the babies, the teen couples get toddlers to care for, then “tweens” with family pets, then teenagers, and finally senior citizens.
Over the next six weeks, you'll get to watch as each couple deals with the drama, surprise, challenges, and rewards of parenting in ways that are riveting and intense. As NBC says, “It’s not TV, it’s birth control!”
I think it's definitely a show that all teens need to watch. It is a great example of reality, and if teens are having sex they must definitely know the consequences that they could suddenly face. Maybe this show will make teens start thinking twice before rushing into sex! Remember, the consequences ALWAYS outweigh the momentary pleasure!
Can teens be good parents? That's the big question raised by NBC's The Baby Borrowers as five teenage couples take part in a reality TV social experiment that lets them experience life in fast forward. They are given nice homes and a brief parenting class, and then real life babies to care for thanks to volunteer parents (some of whom were teen parents themselves).
The teen couples quickly learn what it means to be responsible for a child as well as go to a job every day and sustain relationships with their partners. After a few days with the babies, the teen couples get toddlers to care for, then “tweens” with family pets, then teenagers, and finally senior citizens.
Over the next six weeks, you'll get to watch as each couple deals with the drama, surprise, challenges, and rewards of parenting in ways that are riveting and intense. As NBC says, “It’s not TV, it’s birth control!”
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Not EVERYBODY is doing it
Since I can remember most teens have always used the excuse, "Well, everybody's else is doing it," when their parents tell them no about something or when they need to justify why wrong actions could be okay for them to do. BUT, the good thing is, this is usually the furthest from the truth.
In the midst of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, sex of course is on the list of those things that teens use the everybody's-doing-it reference. But in all actuality, more and more teens are choosing to remain abstinent until marriage. Whether they decide this because of personal spiritual commitments, or because they want to be safe from STDs and emotional struggles, they are still choosing abstinence. Here is a specific example of a teen who is choosing to WAIT, check it out: http://livedout.blogspot.com/2008/06/rising-star-embraces-abstinence.html
In the midst of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, sex of course is on the list of those things that teens use the everybody's-doing-it reference. But in all actuality, more and more teens are choosing to remain abstinent until marriage. Whether they decide this because of personal spiritual commitments, or because they want to be safe from STDs and emotional struggles, they are still choosing abstinence. Here is a specific example of a teen who is choosing to WAIT, check it out: http://livedout.blogspot.com/2008/06/rising-star-embraces-abstinence.html
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