Should teens be having sex?

By Erica Frater, Contributor

BEING A teen was never an easy experience for me, though the experiences I've had shaped and molded me into the woman I am today.

Teens are often told that they should be free from all the troubles there are in life, but teens have many troubles.

Should they be having sex? Parents would no doubt answer no when they think about ther children. This is why I oppose teenagers having sex. As teens you are never prepared for the unexpected events which sex brings, such as getting pregnant and contracting STDs.

Using a condom doesn't guarantee 100 per cent protection and I dont believe that there is sufficient sex education, which could be one cause of so many unwanted pregnancies.

Physically and emotionally, no teen is prepared for such a thing as AIDS.

Teens' minds are not sufficiently developed to cope with sexual intercourse.

I believe sex is for adults who are independent and who can make decisions based on experience. My advice to teens is to stay in school and learn all you can because there's a lot more to life than just sex. Life has many challenges, and you are not responsible enough to deal with all of them.

Erica Frater is a student at Excelsior Community College

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