Podcast: Abstinence as Empowerment
Date: 7/30/2007 | Time: 00:07:18 | Size: 4.1 MB
NCFY staff member Adrian Burnim talks to a young woman who says abstinence is more than a decision not to have sex. It's a way of valuing herself.
[music]
AB: Welcome to the premiere podcast from NCFY, the National
Clearinghouse on Families and Youth. We hope to raise awareness
about the good works being done across America and the programs
funded and developed by FYSB, the Family and Youth Services Bureau,
of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m
Adrian Burnim, Senior Youth Policy Associate at the Clearinghouse.
In this first podcast, we are highlighting FYSB’s
Community-Based Abstinence Education Program, also called CBAE.
Local abstinence education programs, funded through CBAE, empower
youth to choose abstinence from sexual activity and make smart
choices about their health and future.
[music]
AB: Our special guest is Christa Bennett. She recently celebrated
her eighteenth birthday and is a graduating senior at Duke Ellington
School of the Arts, a public high school in Washington, D.C. Since
the sixth grade, Christa has belonged to Best Friends, a CBAE grantee
with sites across the country. Christa took time out to talk with us
about her experiences in Best Friends.
[music]
AB: How have you been empowered through Best Friends to remain
abstinent?
CB: I would definitely say that the message, the mentors that I’ve
had, and my peers, I think that the biggest things that I have
wonderful influences around me and my peers are also abstinent and
they’re doing ... they’re doing the same type of thing.
And so that empowers me to keep going and to keep with abstinence
knowing that you have people that also believe the same thing that
you believe. Entering the Best Friends Foundation, I was able to be
involved in a lot of activities and get exposure to so many different
things. I mean, traveling with the choir.
I’ve built friendships. I mean, some of my friends that I
call my closest, my best friends, really a family. And young men
that I can talk to like they’re my brothers. I’ve had
mentors that have been here for me.
[music]
CB: I definitely believe that self-esteem has a lot to do with how
other people see you and how ultimately you see yourself. In Best
Friends, I know we work on ... we have workshops with self-esteem and
empowering yourself and being secure with who you are.
I feel like my self-esteem is so much more. Because I have made
decisions not to ... to save myself for marriage. And I think that
the respect comes. I think that when you have peers or other people
looking in on you, they may laugh at you. But inside, we all know
who’s winning.
[music]
AB: So can you share with us some of your best turndown techniques?
You know, when people try to tempt you with substance abuse, using
drugs or engaging in sexual activity. What are some of the ways that
you’ve been empowered to be able to resist those types of
temptations?
CB: I just simply say that’s not ... I mean, that’s not
... that’s not who I am. That’s not what I want to do.
And the choices that I make, ultimately I have to live with. They
don’t, you know. And in order for me to stay true to the vow
that I made to Best Friends and to myself by staying abstinent is
basically keeping my distance from the type of activities or things
like that.
I mean, it’s been tough decisions. But I think that Best
Friends has just helped me have such a strong mind that I’ve
been able to say no. Teenagers, we all have boyfriends, girlfriends,
you know. I believe that the setback is you don’t know if you
can find someone who is willing to accept you for your decisions that
you make.
[music]
CB: I would definitely say the benefits of choosing abstinence, you
don’t have two worry about STDs, getting pregnant. I mean, you
... it’s so many things that my friends or my peers around me
in school have to worry about. Oh, I don’t know if I’m
pregnant or am I this? Or am I that? And I’ve had plenty of
friends around me get pregnant, have STDs, plenty of friends around
me. I don’t have to be worried with that. I don’t. I
don’t have to bother.
AB: Do you truly believe that you can be 100 percent abstinent until
marriage?
CB: If I stay connected with Best Friends Foundation and my family
and just stay in the circle of friends and people, positive
influences, on me, I think that, you know I believe it’s
possible. I know it’s possible. [music]
AB: From our talk with Christa, we learned that she and many of her
peers are aware of the dangers and negative consequences that can and
often do result from choosing to engage in sexual activity. Through
Positive Youth Development or PYD, Best Friends has empowered Christa
to overcome negative pressures from peers, media and society at
large.
Best Friends has also given Christa the confidence and passion to
prepare for the future. She plans to attend college and study vocal
performance. She also aspires to launch a youth arts program, which
will be called Self Love.
Some PYD methods highlighted in our conversation with Christa today
are: Expose youth to a variety of fun, safe and positive activities;
Provide opportunities for youth to develop strong friendships and
interact frequently with positive peer groups and; Include lessons
that specifically teach youth about self esteem and how they can
develop and maintain a positive self-image.
Thanks for joining us for this inaugural NCFY podcast. We look
forward to bringing you more information about youth services in our
upcoming installments.
(END OF TRANSCRIPT)
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