Choices. Responsibility. Sex. Those three words are only some of the pressures that teens are faced with today. From the media to other classmates, the choices that teens make are reflected by the pressures they are faced with.

“Teens are struggling to find their own identity,” crisis counselor Debbie Mason said. “They are trying to just belong to the group.”

From the pressures of teens wanting to fit in, the chance of sexual activity increases. 29% of teens ages 15-17 feel pressured to have sex, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“People see other people using drugs and alcohol and having sex, so people feel obligated to do them too,” sophomore Summer Pauley said.

North provides programs for students in freshmen health classes and an 11th grade program to educate and inform them on the possible outcomes of becoming sexually active.

“Teens need to make decisions that they are prepared to live with for the rest of their lives.” health teacher Jenelle Lewis said.

Teens now are becoming more educated on the risks that they are taking when they do become sexual with someone. From not using protection and having a higher chance of getting pregnant, to also spreading of diseases, North provides support.

“I recommend professional and parental help,” Mason said. “And show the student that they have a lot of options that they can look at, from adoption, abortion, and homes to stay while carrying the baby.”

The pressure of using drugs and alcohol, could lead teens to make unclear decisions. According to CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Summary , 51% of teens were under the influence while being sexually active. Again North provides comfort on how to say no and make smart decisions.

“Your virginity is an emotional and physical gift that you shouldn’t use loosely before you are ready,” Mason said. “You need to think about when, who and where.”

According to Mason, not only are teens thinking that being sexual is the way to fit in the crowd, but according to independent researcher in social demography, Jacqueline Darroch , 74% of teen girls that are in a relationship with an older partner, will more likely become sexual.

“I believe that girls get used,” Mason said. “Most teens think that oral sex isn’t sex, but it is still sexual behavior. But it still needs to be a mutual decision and in some cases it is not.”

If teens are going to be sexually active, they should be aware of the outcomes that could happen. From the pressures of the people around them, their decisions could change under the thoughts of someone besides their own.

“I just hope that people don’t regret what they are doing because a lot of the times they do,” Pauley said. “It is something special and that shouldn’t be wasted.”