Free Teens USA - Newburgh Area

JAMES I. O’NEILL HIGH SCHOOL, Nov. 06

Dear Future Child,

This is your Mom writing to you when I was a sophomore in high school.  Right now I am working to achieve my goals in life and trying not to let anything stand in  the way of that.  I am writing to you  to tell you about some pitfalls and dangers to avoid regarding love and sex.  I know you probably do not want to listen to old me talk, but this is me at your age.  So just think about me as one of your peers or friends.  Just hear me out.  Abstinence is an awesome thing.  There is so much less to worry about.  If you or someone else you know gets sexually active, they are heading for a lot of trouble.  Not only are they risking getting STDs or becoming pregnant, it can hurt your emotions, too.  I do not know about the time you  are in, but here in 2006, there are tons of STDs and not all of them are curable.  Even if they are curable, there are still many negative effects.  If you get pregnant or get someone pregnant, you can flush your dreams down the drain.  Pregnancy and having a baby are things you do not want to deal with in high school.  The cost of a baby and the time a baby consumes, no one in high  school can handle that and keep up with school work.  If you do have a baby, then college  is pretty much out of the question.  Just think about all the things you want to do and then add a baby into the equation. That limits the things you can do.  A baby in high school will decrease the potential you have inside of you.  Another thing to advise you on, once you decide to stay abstinent, is drugs and alcohol.  Those things impair your judgment.  And even if you do decide to wait for marriage to have sex, drugs and alcohol can change your mind.  So future kid, take it from someone your age, wait  until marriage, have good friends who make good decisions and avoid drugs and alcohol.
                                                            Kelsey Ragsdale

To My Daughter/Son,

Hey baby, I’m writing to you today to give you  a little advice on life and to help you to make the  right choices in your future before you make the same mistakes as I have done.  There’s a difference in being in love and thinking or feeling like you’re in love.  A good word for  thinking or feeling  like you’re in love is ‘infatuation’.  I know because I’ve infatuated many times when I was your age.  I fell in love with a boy just by looking at him, also known as “love at first sight”.  And I want you to know that everything that looks good to you isn’t good for you.  My point I’m trying to make is usually when you feel like you’re in love, you start to think of ways to show it to that person and the way most people try to show it is by having sex because they think that giving their body up to that person is the  only way to say you  love them.  But think twice before you make that mistake.  You could show how much you love that person by being abstinent.  Abstinence means not  having sex.  I think  that the best thing to do is stay pure and abstain because though sex may be  wonderful, it could kill you.  Sex  is very dangerous and you shouldn’t take it as a joke or do it  because everyone is doing  it.  It is dangerous because it’s  the fastest way to spread an STD or sexually transmitted disease that could stay with you for the rest of your  life  or even kill you.  Some STDs could affect your chances of being a mother or father.  There are many ways to keep your mind off sex, by joining a sport team or club.  But always remember that there are better ways and safer ways to show someone you love them and having sex is the most dangerous way.  You choose your path and think about the consequences.

                                                            Love ya,
                                                            Mom
                                                            Angelique Acosta

 Dear Future Child,

I guess being a teenager is a very confusing time.  During this period of time, you’re trying to figure out who you are, who you want to be, and who your friends are.  It’s ok to want to try new things.  But just remember--all actions have consequences.  Doing drugs and alcohol doesn’t necessarily make you cool or benefit your well-being but can lead to serious mistakes later in life.  It’s also  hard to  define  who your real  friends are.  Your real  friends are the people who really understand you and respect your choices.  Always be open to your parents when you have a problem.  They’re there to help you.  Another important fact is that you can still be special even without a boyfriend or girlfriend.  It’s not the end of the  world.  In other words, don’t go looking for one.  Stick to your goals and opinions and avoid getting with the wrong crowd.

                                                            Devon  Klapkowski

Sampling of
Answers from the Evaluations
2006-2007
What I liked about the program…

Grades 11 & 12, Newburgh Free Academy, April 2007
*It made me aware that there really is no safe sex and opened my eyes to the diseases around school.
*The program showed what it was all about.  It’s not something you  just read out of a book.  I liked the group project with finding cost for the household while having a
child.  It really makes you realize things.
*That the things we have learned in life now makes more sense to me.
*It was straight forward.
*That it was only  8 days.  I think it should be longer.
*That this program should be give in all classes – not just in Health.

Grade 9, John S. Burke H.S., May 2007
*Shows reality of pregnancy  and STDs and the effects of each one.
*The talk about the difference between love and infatuation the last day.
*There were a lot of problems  presented if and when you  have sex.
*The detailing of relationships and good ways to keep them without resorting to sexual intercourse.
*I liked the open discussion about abstinence.
*The connection between the speaker and kids.
*Learning about  all of the consequences of having sex.  It really has increased my wanting to wait until marriage.
*Always truthful.
*I learned more about STDs rather than that they’re just STDs.
*I feel that this program is a good program, and more teens should learn about abstinence.

Grade 7, South Junior High, April 2007
*That it really opened my eyes to how there is more consequences than good things that come with having  sex.
*It really showed us the real dangers of sex and how to say no when you’re pressured.
*Learning how I can stay away from sex, drugs, and alcohol.
*I liked that it was all true and now we know what sex can do to us.
*I liked the video [NO APOLOGIES: the truth about life, love and sex]…it was real, it gave me a visual of what other people’s opinions were.
*I learned more about STDs, emotions and what love really  is.
*Learning how many qualities I had.  [Self Esteem activity]

Grade 10, James I. O’Neill H.S., March 2007
*The honesty.
*The open discussion about things that are never addressed in school.
*That it shows that people really care about keeping teenagers safe.
*I liked how much more about the consequences I learned.  It was a big reality check.
*Honest & bluntness.
*That it was pretty cool, and I learned a whole lot.
*Dealing with real-life problems.
*There were no awkward moments.
*That people really need to learn about the differences between actual love and lust or infatuation and what are healthy relationships.

Grade 7, North Junior High, March 2007
*We talked maturely about sex.
*Learning about how many consequences there are, making me want to stay far away from drugs, alcohol and sex.
*It gave me more reason to say no.

Grade 7, Chester Academy, February 2007
*That it made me think a lot about my life.

Grade 7, South Junior High, December 2006
*That it lets you know your special.  You don’t have to give anything up if you don’t want to.
*That it helps us a lot because then after the program finishes and someone asks you to have sex you know what to say.
*That you don’t have to have sex and you have the decision.

Grade 7, North Junior High, December 2006
*I liked to hear not to have sex before marriage.
*It answered all my questions about sex.
**I learned so much and now I’m gonna follow my religion and abstinence.
*I liked about this program is that you don’t have to do sex when you are 13 or 14.
**Well that would have to be the teacher.  I don’t like talking about this stuff but she put  it in a kind of easy way.
*How sure I am now not to have a sexual relationship.
**That it shows what are the consequences are for having sex because lots of my friends who are in 9th grade lost their virginity are.  I like that this program is being held.
*Just because you use a condom doesn’t make it ok to have sex.

Grade 10, James I. O’Neill H.S., November 2006
*They told me what I wanted to know.
**The program gives handouts which help us to make our decisions.

Grade 7, South Junior High, November 2006
*Able to express your feeling and not being afraid to.
*I liked this class!!
*It helps me with my future goals.

Grade 7, Heritage Junior High, October 2006
*That it taught us about things that we would do but now some people don’t want to do it anymore.
*That it informed people about the consequences of their actions.
*Learning about the STDs.  I think we needed to learn that.

Something I learned…
Grades 11 & 12, Newburgh Free Academy, April 2007
*It’s never too late to change your habits.
*I learned about STDs that I didn’t know existed.
*To focus on the goals I have for my  life.

Grade 7, South Junior High, April 2007
*Sex doesn’t show how  much  you care for someone.
*Many people  regret having sex, it’s not just  this huge thing that everyone does.
***If other countries can reduce statistics, so can we.
**Sex is not what love is about.

Grade 7, North Junior High, March 2007
*That if you use protection, it will  not always work.  And you might end up pregnant.
*People don’t have to have sex.
*Love doesn’t mean you have to have sex.

Grade 7, South Junior High, December 2006
*It’s better to wait because it’s not worth the risk.
*Babies born from teens may have emotional or physical problems.
*That there are so many people in the USA who don’t know they got an STI.

Grade 7, North Junior High, December 2006
*There is no safe sex.

Grade 10, James I. O’Neill H.S., November 2006
*How to build a great relationship.

Grade 7, South Junior High, November 2006
*That having sex when you are a teen and you get a STD or get pregnant, you will have to carry with that STD/or child the rest of your life. 

Grade 7, Heritage Junior High, October 2006
*What AIDS really is.
*Abstinence is the best way  to go.
*That having sex in the teen years isn’t safe or a good idea.
*Knowing I’m  not the only one going through these problems.