Saying "NO" can be hard.
Tips to make your brain cooperate:

Avoid Alcohol and Drugs. They mess with your brain's ability to make healthy choices.

Don't push yourself to exhaustion by staying up late. Adolescents need at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Tired brains often make regrettable choices.

If you've been hurt emotionally, you need time ... Don't try to "fix" the pain with sex ... It will only make things worse! Respect yourself enough to save sex for the person who stands before friends and family and says to you, "I do!"

Ease the pressure to be sexually active by staying in groups and hanging out with those who respect your values. Make your values known!

Don't believe everything you see and hear in the media. Media often leaves out the negative consequences of sex. Pregnancy, STD, decrease self worth, broken hearts, and broken relationships are VERY REAL when sex is added to teen relationships! Relationships with the opposite sex grow stronger and healthier when sex is saved.

Really Cool Links for Teens

Here are some resources to help inform/educate you regarding the positive choice of abstinence until marriage. These web sites are not affiliated with The Responsible Social Values Program.

Thinkitover.org
MissTheMess.com
Choosetoday.org
EliProjects.org
GreatToWait.com
WorthTheWait.org

Conference Corner

Q. Why do teens become sexually active?

A. For many reasons, but the main reason is that teens who do become sexually active probably did not make a firm decision to wait to have sex until marriage, and when the pressure was on, they gave in. So, stand firm and say "no" loud and clear!

A. Most importantly, remember that just because everyone else seems to be doing something doesn't make it cool or right. Secondly, level with your friends. Tell them that waiting to have sex is important to you and about the consequences of not waiting (i.e. pregnancy, STI's, regret and more). Respect yourself enough to say "no" for now.

It's a Fact!

One in four sexually active teens are currently infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

There are at least 35 different kinds of STD's.

80% of those infected with an STI have no initial symptoms and do not know they are infected.

STI is the new term for STD (diseases transmitted through sexual contact).

Love or Infatuation?

Many teens mistake infatuation for love. They may feel like they are "walking on clouds." They can get focused on their emotions and let their feelings make decisions for them about sex.

Sadly, many teens find themselves regretting the choices they made in the passion of the moment.

Passion can be positive when it is directed properly, such as towards sports, art, a hobby or interest. But when it comes to relationships, we need to exercise self-control and keep our focus on our future instead of our feelings.