How to Cope With Sex Education

Realize that you are not the only one who feels this way. Embarrassment and awkwardness are common responses to learning about sex. Sometimes, people act embarrassed to hide how curious they are, because they don't want their friends to think they are excited to learn about sex. But whatever your response is to sex education, it's okay!

·         In most cultures, sexuality is considered rather private, so sexual information is not discussed in the same way as other topics. But do not let that keep you from asking important questions.

·         Health educators understand how to make sensitive issues easier to discuss. In a sex education course, topics are developmentally appropriate for the age of the class, and the more difficult topics come later in the year.

Know what all is covered in sex ed. Sexual education is not just about sexual intercourse--it also involves learning about how male and female bodies work and how to take care of your body.

·         A thorough sex ed curriculum will answer questions like how to handle your menstrual cycle (for girls), what to do if you think you might be gay, how to prevent sexually transmitted infections and diseases, what to do if you receive sexually explicit text messages, how to handle being the only virgin or the only non-virgin in your group of friends, and what to do if your boy- or girlfriend is manipulative or controlling, plus many other topics.

·         You might feel like some of these topics don't apply to you--for instance, if you have already gone through puberty and handled those changes well, and plan to stay a virgin for now. In that case, sex ed might feel like a waste of your time, but it is possible that there are other topics you might not even realize you still need to learn about.

Welcome sex education and learn about sexuality. No matter what your views are on controversial issues such as the biology of reproduction, heterosexuality and homosexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy, you are a sexual being. It's important to learn about this part of yourself to grow as an individual with a healthy self-image.

·         Even if you identify as asexual (not having any interest in sex), throughout your life other people are likely to make sexual advances toward you, and you must learn how to respond to living in a world where sexuality matters.

·         Health courses at the high-school level are often known as "easy A's" if you keep up with quizzes, projects, and homework. Typically, they are less demanding than core subjects like mathematics, science, history, world languages, or literature.

·         You may even have fun learning more about yourself and your body!