2004 Abstinence Essay Contest 1st Place Dustin Rhodes, 9th grader at Eastern Wayne High School is recognized by Dr. Terry Frazier, Wayne County Board of Health Chairperson (left) and Mr. James Roosen, Wayne County Health Director (right). Dustin will be a rising sophomore at Eastern Wayne High School in the 2004-2005 school year. He received a $25 gift certificate to Berkeley Mall and a $10 gift certificate to McDonalds.

ABSTINENCE

I believe that choosing abstinence from sex before marriage is the right thing to do. Abstaining from sex before marriage prevents your chance of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease, it prevents your chance of an unwanted pregnancy, and it promotes a healthy and happy lifestyle.

First of all, abstaining from sex before marriage lets you escape the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease. Sexually transmitted diseases cause many problems and lots of trouble. Having a sexually transmitted disease can destroy your life. Most sexually transmitted diseases come with terrible symptoms. A person with a sexually transmitted disease may experience fatigue, pain, and much irritation due to the symptoms of the disease. This may interfere with that person’s lifestyle. That person may not be able to perform his or her daily activities that he or she is used to. If someone enjoys a certain sport, and that person suddenly gets a sexually transmitted disease, then he or she might experience symptoms that cause him or her to be incapable of participating in that sport. Also, a sexually transmitted disease may even be deadly. AIDS is an example of a deadly disease. Avoiding your chance of getting a sexually transmitted disease is very simple. Just don’t have sex before marriage.

Secondly, abstaining from sex before marriage prevents your chance of an unwanted pregnancy. The responsibility of raising a child is too great for any teen to handle. Raising a child is difficult for both parents, and it is even harder to take care of the child by yourself. It is so hard for a teen to raise a child because the teen has to go to school and raise the child at the same time. Most teens that have had a child drop out of school. This causes the teen to miss out on getting a proper education and usually results in the teen getting a lower-paying job. Then, because he or she has lower-paying job, it is more difficult for him or her to get enough money to support his or her child. Sometimes, the grandparents of the child take care of the child. This makes life harder for the child because he or she doesn’t live with his or her parents. So many things can go wrong just because of one unwanted pregnancy. Abstaining from sex before marriage can help you dodge these troubles.

Lastly, choosing abstinence from sex before marriage promotes a healthy and happy lifestyle. If you choose abstinence, you will be free to do the things you want to do. You won’t have to care for a child, and you won’t have to worry about contracting a sexually transmitted disease. You can carry on with the normal things you do in life. The choice of abstaining from sex or not abstaining from sex plays a crucial role in the development of a teenager’s future. If you choose abstinence, you will not have to worry about the symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease. You can live healthier by not having to experience these symptoms. For girls, it is unhealthy to have a baby in the teenage years. A teenage girl’s body is not prepared enough for developing a baby. It is best to have children after you get an education and a job because that makes it much easier to raise a family. The choice of abstaining from sex helps build a firm foundation for teens and can help lead to a happier life in the future.

Choosing abstinence prevents the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease and an unwanted pregnancy. It also promotes a healthier and happier lifestyle. Teens should wait until after they are married to start a family. Choosing abstinence from sex before marriage is one of the decisions you need to make to lead a healthful lifestyle.