I wish I had known this information
when I was in junior high

Dear Mom,
I wanted to share something important with you. I recently took a class and learned about
sex, consent, sexuality, and healthy relationships. I wish I had known this information
when I was in junior high or high school because I feel it would have prevented
bad things happening, not just to me but other people. There are things I never knew
about sex... most of what I knew came from my peers or the internet. It would be incredible if everyone had the opportunity to take this class. I honestly wish sex-ed was mandatory. A place where teens could openly and freely discuss these important topics. It would have helped me to have a more realistic and healthy understanding of what I was going through, from sexuality to relationship development, and I know my friends would agree with me. It could change how people viewed sex education, I believe mandatory sex education should be taken to heart and strongly considered by every state.

Personally, I have never even kissed a boy. Sure, in grade school, I shared a kiss with the cute boy on my bus, but I haven't kissed a boy since that time in 4th grade. I haven’t had sex, I am pretty much the most inexperienced person. Even just speaking to a boy, I find somewhat cute, is awkward. I have no confidence or struggle with it a lot. I'm not comfortable in my own body, I overthink and overanalyze every situation I’m in, so finding a boy to get close with or just talk to makes me actually sick to my stomach. My social anxiety and regular anxiety are not helpful in any situation. There have been times, I question if I’m asexual because I actually have had zero desire to do anything with anyone and thought something was wrong with me.

In this day and age, I feel it is so hard to find a genuine person. So much of this generation participates in hookup culture, and that’s just something I’m not into and honestly afraid of. Since taking this class I am beginning to understand more, like that our cultural messages from media about sex and relationships are unhealthy at best.

I guess I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am that I took this class and I am learning how to properly go about sexual and emotional encounters. In some ways I’m grateful for my inexperienced, because now I know what’s right and wrong and how to not be taken advantage of. I now know what to look for and the appropriate steps to go through when faced with unfortunate situations, that our generation all too often experiences. Thank you, Stephanie.

I love you, mom