by Kim Bonnalie

Created on: September 02, 2008   Last Updated: April 09, 2011

I agree that education level and IQ would play a part in the sexual activity of students based on the relation between education and self confidence.
The major reasons for sexual activities in students, especially those high school level and younger, are self confidence, lack of knowledge, and societal pressure. Many people do not want to admit it but peer pressure is the number one cause, I believe, in youth choices that are unhealthy for them. A student with a strong education and ability to grasp the emotional and physical consequences of sexual activity is far more likely to hold off. The higher the education lever of a student, the more self confidence that student will have which will, undoubtedly, directly effect his or her ability to withstand and deny peer pressures, and allow them to make choice more fitted to their goals and aspirations.

A student with low self confidence is at such a disadvantage in today's world. With low self confidence they will do more to fit in, which could mean giving into peer pressures, which often lead to negative choices. A student with self esteem and confidence issues is much more worried about what others think of them, and often times do much more drastic things to get people to be close tot them and make them feel more confident. Being sexually active, a sad but true thing, is a way for students to become "closer" and to feel like they fit in with each other more. It can also be an emotional connection, more often for girls than boys, which will provide a confidence in a relationship.
Education is also a major factor in this decision. Any students know are suffering from societies "editing" and "censoring" of what our students are shown in their schools. Whether this be literature, art or classes, it is negatively effecting students. Teaching the abstinence view of a sex education class, to be frank, does no good for our students. They need information, so that when they are hit with the decisions of sexual activity is I no longer a yes or no question. With education if becomes a critical thinking. "Am I ready for this?" and "What will this do for my future?" and "What if something goes wrong?" become the questions that replace "Yes or No?". Only with education can we expect and hope that student made an educated choice. The student with this knowledge think critically and think further down the line than students with now real grasp about the effects of being sexually active simply because they know what they're getting into. They are also, much less likely to regret any decision they make.

Finally, societal pressure pertaining to sexual activity is enormous. Sex is everywhere on T.V., in music, Video Games. There is no way of avoiding it. An educated person sees these pressures much differently than one whom is not given the knowledge. They see a choice, a thousand different options and reasons and consequences, while someone uneducated, sees what is normal, "supposed to be done", and acceptable.

In the long run, the only way to help our students is to educate them. We cannot make the choice for them, and we cannot be there to hold their hands. All we can do is tell them the facts, explore the options with them, and be confidant that with that knowledge they make the right choice. One thing is for sure, without it, they don't have a fighting chance.

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