"In
this newsletter I am going to tell you about what I think about the
Free Teens program. I think it's a great experience for teenagers."
"I
know that there's a lot of things going on in this world. I know plenty
of teenagers, 14 and 15, who are pregnant who don't know what to do.
They are having trials and tribulations. But this girl I know still
didn't learn after having her first child. It's like it provoked her to
have sex even more. Her mother and everybody else tried to talk to her,
but she wanted to find everything out by herself. So, she moved out and
about three months later she didn't have nowhere to go. The girl went
back to her parents and stayed there. Now she's only 15, still trying
to survive."
Tamara Rogers, Paterson, N.J.
"Being smart means being able to learn from other people's experience."
"In
the Free Teens trip to Aldersgate I learned that being abstinent is one
of the best ways to achieve your goals. I think that if you really care
about yourself you will wait until you are married to have sex."
Kavon Clyburn, Paterson, N.J.
"The
Free Teens club is very interesting. It teaches you about things
teenagers should know. We listened to a couple of stories. The stories
were sad enough to let me know that I'm not having sex until I'm
married and achieved my goals."
Kelicia Herbert, PS4, Grade 8, Paterson, N.J.
"If
a boy or girl doesn't treat you with the utmost respect he's not the
one. Once he leaves you, he has taken your respect, your trust, your
commitment, and your virginity. In order for someone to make you happy
you have to love yourself within. Only you can be the leader of your
life. Be strong and follow your own will."
Lashonda Norris, 15, Paterson, N.J.
"I
think that this Free Teens retreat was a great experience for me,
because I really got to meet a lot of new people. I also learned to set
a goal, and how to accomplish them by not giving up, no matter what
happens. The most important lesson I learned today was that if I decide
to have sex, that I should wait 'til marriage, because sex is not going
anywhere, and that's true."
Sheryl Brackett, 16, Paterson
"My
mother died from AIDS. Some days she would feel fine and some days she
would feel weak. No matter how much she ate she would still lose
weight. AIDS is a serious disease no one wants to have."
L.N., 12, Grade 6, Paterson
"During
this retreat, I learned a lot. I learned how to work with peers. We
learned that sex should wait until you accomplish your goals."
Azwan Grant, 8th grade, Jersey City, NJ
Comments of 7th grade students in PS 14, Jersey City:
"It
lets teens learn more about sex, what it does and what is the real
meaning of love. Now teenagers can see how at risk they are."
"I just want to see younger kids not having sex and teens not having STDs or AIDS. Just wait until you are married!"
The following letter was written by a student participating in the Free Teens
Dear Child,
I
don't know when I'm going to have you, but when I do I want you to know
that you are supposed to be respected, with honesty and dignity. Always
know that you are not supposed to lie to get what you want. Be
yourself, have a family, go to college. Have a wife and two kids. Be
committed and dedicated toward them. Don't depend on any one else,
depend on yourself, love your self, believe in yourself. Have
self-confidence!
"Love you"
