By Self-Respect
EDI 17 Psychology and Development of Adolescent Students
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 8, 2010
I must admit that I felt uncomfortable in today’s class. I was not uncomfortable about the topic of sexual identify development among adolescents and the realities of sexual behavior among adolescents; I feel that these are important topics for teachers and teachers-in-training to consider and educate themselves about because they will most likely come into contact with these issues in their classrooms and/or in the school environment. What made me uncomfortable in today’s class were some of the abrasive and insensitive comments made by a few of my classmates. I was shocked by how virginity was dismissed and labeled with such a negative connotation. The impression I felt while sitting in class and listening to the discussion was that being a virgin in high school, and especially in college, is embarrassing and means that there is something wrong with that person. I absolutely disagree with this view.
In my opinion, being a virgin means that an individual respects himself/herself, respects his/her body, and respects his/her values and beliefs. I am proud to admit that I am still a virgin. Based on their comments in class, many people would probably characterize/label me as a prude and think that there is something wrong with me. I am a virgin because I choose to be; I respect myself and the values and beliefs I hold. Maybe I should have spoken up in class – I did consider speaking about my opinion. However, I did not want to put myself in the position where I would have to defend myself and my values/beliefs; defending myself and my values/beliefs makes it as though there is something wrong with what I feel, and I strongly believe that my values/beliefs do not need defending.
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 8, 2010
I must admit that I felt uncomfortable in today’s class. I was not uncomfortable about the topic of sexual identify development among adolescents and the realities of sexual behavior among adolescents; I feel that these are important topics for teachers and teachers-in-training to consider and educate themselves about because they will most likely come into contact with these issues in their classrooms and/or in the school environment. What made me uncomfortable in today’s class were some of the abrasive and insensitive comments made by a few of my classmates. I was shocked by how virginity was dismissed and labeled with such a negative connotation. The impression I felt while sitting in class and listening to the discussion was that being a virgin in high school, and especially in college, is embarrassing and means that there is something wrong with that person. I absolutely disagree with this view.
In my opinion, being a virgin means that an individual respects himself/herself, respects his/her body, and respects his/her values and beliefs. I am proud to admit that I am still a virgin. Based on their comments in class, many people would probably characterize/label me as a prude and think that there is something wrong with me. I am a virgin because I choose to be; I respect myself and the values and beliefs I hold. Maybe I should have spoken up in class – I did consider speaking about my opinion. However, I did not want to put myself in the position where I would have to defend myself and my values/beliefs; defending myself and my values/beliefs makes it as though there is something wrong with what I feel, and I strongly believe that my values/beliefs do not need defending.
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