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Dreams and Decisions

© Alyice Edrich

Dreams and Decisions is an excellent program sponsored by Soroptimist International, A Business Women's Community Service Organization of Corona, CA. (Their phone number is 909-734-4184)Once a year, they host a luncheon for teens and preteens about the decision to have sex or not to have sex. They provide two adults per table of eight girls, two teens moms, one teen who chose to not have sex, a nurse, and a teen movie star.

The movie star is what brings the girls to this function. But it's the three teens that captivate their minds and get them thinking about important issues.

The format of the day is pretty laid back, the teens arrive to find a place to sit, and meet their volunteer adults. Once everyone is seated the day begins. There are two hostesses who give a few speeches and introduce the upcoming guests and events.

First up are the teen moms and virgin teen. The teen moms take turns talking about how they got pregnant and how hard it is to be a mom. They even talk about how the boy got them into bed. The virgin teen talks about why she chooses not to have sex and what type of things boys do to try to change her mind. She ends by saying how great it is to be able to experience her young life without having a child.

Then there is a Question and Answer forum with these teens and well as a nurse. Teens can ask any question they like. There have been questions like "does it hurt, how can you get such and such a disease, can drugs harm a baby, how long does labor take, what is clamidia, what the best way to prevent pregnancy, how do you get rid of menstrual cramps, how do you prevent birth defects, what is your typical day like, do you get teased for being a virgin, did you come close to having sex, is sex worth it, do you wish you would have waited to have a baby, and so forth..."

Then the girls break for lunch, and head outside to get a T-shirt to remind them of the event as well as some goodies from local businesses.

Once back inside, everyone waits in anticipation for the Keynote Speaker. This year it was Marnette Patterson from "Something So Right." She has also appeared in 3rd Rock from the Sun, "Movie Stars," and "Touched by an Angel."

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