Was I a mistake?

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Recommended: Prevent teen pregnancy by educating

Nearly 615,000 teen pregnancies occur in the United States each year. This number has drastically changed since the mid 90’s. It is no big surprise that teen pregnancy is something most people frown upon in this country. It really makes a teenager grow up very fast, even when they don’t think they can. Teen pregnancy is preventable but we still know it is going to happen each and every year. I believe that talking about prevention at an appropriately early age is key. More importantly the way a teenage girl feels pressure to make choices about her pregnancy and how to tell her family the news is something we should prepare teenage girls about as well. Teaching a young woman the value she can put towards her and her baby’s future is very important and will be more valuable than scolding it through their minds that sex is bad.

There are many reasons why there are so many unplanned pregnancies among teens in this country each year. Teen pregnancies are often associated with social issues, including lower education levels, higher rates of poverty, and other poor life outcomes. Teenage pregnancy is usually outside of marriage and carries a social stigma in many communities. In recent studies done it is determined that teen pregnancy will still occur until more opportunities exist for teens in poverty. Teen pregnancy is also associated with teens that do not a have a good role model in their lives. Whether it be a mother, father, aunt, or uncle that is not present in the teen’s life, it is pertinent that there be someone that the teen can look up to and to go to for advice.

The prospects of a teen mother finding a job and creating financial security for herself and her family is slim in this country. When a teen girl becomes pregna...

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...felt comfortable talking to her about anything related to sex in case I had a question.
When a teen girl was asked during her pregnancy in an interview how she felt, she said she was scared. She wished she had waited longer to take that next step. When doing an interview with the same teenager after she had given birth, she said she was still scared about the future but now she has someone to fight for. Yes teen pregnancy is condoned as something bad but like any bad situation we are taught to make the best out of it. So the next time you see a teen mom either pregnant or with her child, take a minute to talk to her and see how she is doing instead of maybe looking and judging. We are so quick to assume the worst about a person before we really get to know why or how something happened. Next time be the bigger person and be compassionate before just assuming.

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