It can be a scary thing to accept, but sex is a big part of the world we live in. Sometimes though, the feelings we have about sex and our ability to handle them do not always go hand in hand. Hey, let’s admit it, bodies mature a lot faster than brains. Sex is a personal decision for any adult, but for a kid sometimes it is hard to make good decisions.

Regardless of what you hear about sex, the risks as a teenager are probably too high. Think of the hassle of having to do homework and clean your room. Now, add to that the hassle of being a 14-year-old mom or dad. Teen pregnancy is a big problem in Canada and it does not only happen to someone else.

If you are going to have sex, make sure you use condoms. More important, remember that nobody ever became pregnant saying no. If you are a girl, remember it is your body, your baby, and it would be your life that would be affected the most. If your partner’s love depends on having sex with you, then it probably is not love.

Both girls and guys should know that sex can also be life-threatening. The person you are with may say you are special, but remember having sex with one person is like having sex with every previous partner of that person. How special are they?

It is easy to forget nowadays just how dangerous sexually transmitted diseases are. Well, modern medicine can cure everything, right? Wrong. People are dying from AIDS more now than ever. There are also all kinds of horrible diseases spread by sexual contact that can take your life, your health or your ability to have your own kids in the future. When you gain experience and maturity as an adult, it will be a lot easier to decide if and when sex is right for you. Until then, rely on your parents or other responsible adults to help you with this difficult decision. Remember, when it comes to sex, no one ever overdosed from a healthy dose of vitamin 'no.'

Drugs and alcohol

Are drugs and alcohol cool? Only if you consider it cool to lose your health, your freedom and your reputation. They are also addicting and who needs that? Whatever feelings adults have about drugs and alcohol, there is an important thing for teens to remember - they are illegal and they are stupid. Nobody needs to get on the bad side of the law.

Drugs and alcohol are also dangerous. They can make you sick and they can kill you. Drugs are associated with the kind of people who do not care much about others. Maybe worst of all they make you do stupid things and some of us sure do not need any help doing stupid things, do we?

Kids on drugs and alcohol can lose control of both their minds and their bodies. That is the most dangerous thing of all. Sometimes with drugs and alcohol it almost seems impossible to say no. It seems more and more a part of a lot of kids’ lives. Well, don’t let people who cannot make good choices force you to do the same.

It is easy to convince yourself that it is okay to try drugs and alcohol and experiment. That is cool, right? Do not forget, some drugs have been shown to be addictive after only one use. You only have to experiment with one dirty needle to get AIDS.

You also have to get caught only once to lose your freedom. Just think of the people who offer you drugs and alcohol. Are they your friends or are they just trying to bring you down to their level or to control you? Have you ever seen a cool drug addict? Think about it.

Cigarettes

Now, cigarettes aren’t risky, are they? Well, if we told you diet cola caused cancer, would you drink it? If make-up made your skin wrinkly, would you wear it? If toothpaste made your teeth yellow, would you use it? Then why smoke? Forget how gross cigarettes make you smell, look or feel; they are addicting and whatever they do to you now is nothing compared to what they will do to you next year or next decade. Cancer anyone?

When you think, “I am not going to get hooked, I just do it for fun," ask yourself how many of those cool adults smoking around you now woke up one day and decided to get hooked on smokes? Furthermore, how many of them started smoking when they were teenagers?

Driving

What is cooler than your first set of wheels? Not much. Your first car is one of the best parts of being a teenager. Freedom, fun, absolutely nothing beats it. Sometimes it seems like a car is little more than a perfect toy . . . go where you want, when you want, as fast as you want and look good doing it. Keep in mind though that a car is not a toy and takes a lot of responsibility. Car accidents kill over 5,000 Canadians each year, a lot of them kids.

Hey, even your own parents, who it seems have been driving for over 100 years, can have trouble driving. It is understandable that despite what your ego says, you are not going to get it right the first time. Although it may seem a little bit boring, keep in mind that you should always drive safely, drive the speed limit and never, ever drink and drive.

Never let morons who think they are cool drink and drive. If you cannot convince them to change, then at least don’t get in their car. Ask yourself, would you trust those people with $100, $1,000 or $10,000? No? Then why trust them with something much more valuable? Your life.

It may seem like being a teenager is nothing more than rules about the things you can’t do but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Being a kid is an awesome adventure and there is nothing wrong with taking chances. Taking chances makes us human and that is what helps us grow. Some chances, however, are never worth taking. No one ever said it was easy being a kid. It would have been great for life to come with an owner’s manual, but you must write your own. Before you do something, think about it, learn about it and understand what it is you’re doing. Do not forget, though, every time you think being a kid is hard, remember there are a lot of adults that would be happy to trade places with you.

Taking Chances What is worth the risk?