What the sex ed teacher learns

1.  We ALL have strong feelings, beliefs and values that need to be validated!
2.  Middle school students are VERY different from high school students.
3.  No matter how the curriculum is written sex and relationships are emotional, spiritual, physical and social topics.
4.  There is an enourmous amount of responsibility when you have critical information for someone's health and wellness.
5.  The ability to say the words penis and vagina in a classroom of youth OR adults without sweat and hives makes you feel like a superhero!
6.  Everyone needs someone for those embarrassing questions.
7.  Teens respond honestly if you know how to judge them.  They stand taller and more confident with accurate information and actually think through consequences when given the chance.
8.  Adults CAN teach youth how to be comfortable with discussing their bodies, relationships and sexual activity.
9.  Being comfortable with the topic of sex and sexuality makes us all stronger advocates for ourselves and we are more likely to set our own limits.
10.  Adults need sex ed as much as teens.
11.  Creating a safe space to talk about sex, abuse, coercion, consent and empowerment can lead to youth and adults revealing abuse or violence in their lives.
12.  Trauma informed practices are EXTREMELY important.
13.  There is a magical balance between answering someone's question and giving too much information.  It takes practice.
14.  We all want healthy relationships for ourselves and our youth.  We all want people to have babies and start families when they have a united family unit with economic and educaitonal resources for the best possible experience in the world.  And we all want youth who are free from abuse, violence, disease and unintended pregnancies.  And, we can all find a way to be an askable adult, step into the discomfort of the topic, educate ourselves, desensitize ourselves and show we are emotionally capable of handling whatever issue our youth are trying to manage.

I have learned all this and SO much more in these past few years.  I am so very grateful for the opportunity to build the Garfield County PREP program and work along side so many passionate partners committed to the wellbeing of our communities.  I am excited to pass the torch to the next person who can help build a sustainable plan for the PREP program and continue the success.