AIDS and Safe Sex
Alright, so you're not going to stop having sex. And why not? It's fun and your a healthy guy. Plus, you sexually peak at the age of 18, so it's not going to get much better than this, right? Well, it's definately not going to get any better if you accidentally get someone pregnant or find out that you have an STD. If you still feel that sex isn't worth giving up, you should either take your actions responsibly like using a condom or face the sometimes disasterous consequences. Let's look at 2 scenarios:
Scenario 1- Scott Doe is a player. He goes out every weekend to get bombed and wakes up the next afternoon not knowing what he has done and who has has done it with. He doesn't realize that a girl he slept a few months ago with is pregnant and that he has infected 5 people with HIV this year alone! In fact, he doesn't even realize that he has HIV becuase he thinks he's invincible and that condoms are for wimps. He continues to have unprotected sex with people night after night after he gets blasted and only realizes the consequences when it is too late. When he finds out he is HIV positive, his life changes. Scot must tell every girl he's had sex with that he might have infected them with HIV. He gets alienated by his friends and has ruined the lives of many other teens just like you and me. The end.
Scenario 2- John Doe isn't a stranger when it comes to sex. He knows the dangers and doesn't want to be another statistic when it comes to being a teenage parent or HIV positive. He practices safer sex by using a condom and spermicide before every "night of fun" and doesn't mess around and just "happen to be in another girl's bed." Even if this relationship doesn't work out, he doesn't ruin Jane Smith's chances of living a healthy and productive life by getting get pregnant and giving her STDs like AIDS. He doesn't become HIV infected doesn't get alienated by his friends. He doesn't start an HIV epidemic in his city and lives a happy, normal life. The end.
A little steep? Probably not. There are thousands of teens who's lives are almost exactly like each scenario. There are thousands presently choosing which path to take. The final decision is up to you. Remember, you get AIDS as a result of what you do in life, or as a result of what you don't do.
About the Author
John Li is a senior at Lake Brantley High School. He is a varsity letterman in tennis and is currently ranked 2nd in his class. Please visit the About the Authors section for more information.
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