At 12 years old, I became aware of the dangers of unprotected sex when I learned that HIV/AIDS was prevalent in the black community, affecting our teen population. I didn't learn this from a sex ed class; I learned it by watching a lot of educational programs on BET. But all I had to do, really, was look around me.

I live in a small Georgia community where many teens get pregnant and/or infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). When I entered high school, someone close to me got HIV/AIDS. And a lot of my closest friends started getting pregnant, having babies, and dropping out of school. (There aren't many ways for teens to enjoy themselves here, so they have babies.)

I knew my friends weren't using protection, or, if they were, didn't know how to use it properly. I also knew that teens were making sex a priority in their lives and taking risks. But the sex ed class at our high school didn't teach us about the dangers of unprotected sex. There was a school program for teen moms, but nothing that would stop unplanned pregnancy before it even began.

Courtney Calhoun

We decided to educate teens on the dangers of unprotected sex and start a program that emphasized to teens that sex is about choices. We felt that most teens in our community didn't have high self-esteem, and we wanted to make them feel energized about taking care of and protecting themselves if they're sexually active.

Being teens, we thought about what would interest us. What type of educational program would get our attention? After a lot of brainstorming, we created a program called "Teen Choice."

We wanted the name to emphasize the choices teens have to make about sex. And we knew that teens would much rather listen to other teens talk about these issues than adults, so we wanted to educate our peers.

Part of our mission is to let teens know that sex does not equal living, especially if you do it just because you're pressured. (If so, you're not really living for yourself; you're trying to satisfy someone else.)

Our message is pretty straightforward: Sex can have real consequences. It's not just something you do for pleasure; it can dramatically change your life—especially if you don't protect yourself.

First, we talked with a school counselor about our idea, and she helped us get a meeting with our principal. We told him we wanted to start holding teen sex-ed events at school. It's not every day that a student asks the principal if she can start a program to educate teens on the dangers of unprotected sex. He said we could start Teen Choice at our school.

Teen-Led Summits 

Once we established Teen Choice, we set up events, which we call "youth summits." At the summits, we tell teens that if they plan on keeping their bodies healthy for a long time, they should be aware of the risks of unprotected sex. We remind them that it's their bodies, so they're the only ones who can be responsible. And it's up to them to say no to sex, if that's what they choose to do.

We teach teens to be abstinent and also to protect themselves, if they choose not to abstain. "Teen Choice" means every teen has a choice. Good or bad, it will impact their future. We give them the facts about commonly known STDs and tell them ways to protect themselves. At one summit, we invited a certified nurse to an event to teens how to use condoms.

But we don't just lecture teens; we make our summits interesting. One time we put on a fashion show, to show teens that you don't have to have sex just to be sexy. I called local stores to see if they would donate clothes, mostly hip-hop wear, and found teens to model them. We decorated the stage and hung a sign that read: "To be sexy, you don't have to have sex." As a teen model came down the runway, I told the audience facts about STDs.

Most teens love to listen to music and remember music more than an Algebra assignment. So, we also held an open mic session at another summit. A teen would rap for 60 seconds on the dangers of unprotected sex, and how to protect yourself if you're sexually active. It was an interesting way to get teens to listen. Most teens love music, so why not make them listen to something they like and, at the same time, learn and talk to their peers about sex?

When teens interact with us, it gives them a chance to feel like they're part of the action, too. At our summits, many teens feel like they can express their feelings about unprotected sex, or talk about why they feel they must have sex. We find that many teens are willing to change their behavior; they just need that extra boost and encouragement.

One Life at a Time 

Now there are ten members of Teen Choice. We've done eight youth summits, and I just wrote a play about the dangers of unprotected sex. Since starting the program, I've discovered that many teens want to know the dangers, but haven't being educated enough at school. Many say they haven't had a sex ed class since 5th grade.

One time, a young guy told me that he really appreciates what I'm trying to do. He said he knows it's not easy for me to get up and talk to a group of close-minded teens. And he said he never knew that sex could be risky.

Even if I educate just one person about sex, that's one life.

Many teens tell me that they've really gained knowledge from our summits. They say they never knew that STDs really existed. They thought things like HIV/AIDS only happened on TV, or they thought AIDS wasn't real unless it happened to them. Our summits really give teens a reality check.

Today, Teen Choice is raising money to renovate a building and make it our headquarters. We're either going to get a grant or set up a big youth summit with rap artists to raise money. As always, our main goal is to spread the word and let teens know they have a choice.

Recently, I was named 2003 Cosmo Girl of the Year for starting Teen Choice. The magazine flew my mom and me to New York City for the awards ceremony. I was so honored.

Every time I do a youth summit, I feel the drive and passion to save teens' lives. To be a teen advocate, you must believe in yourself and have confidence. My motto is, "If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will."

Courtney Calhoun lives in Albany, Georgia.