Dear Counselor, I am a boy of 17. My friends say they are having sex. They are laughing at me because I don’t have a girl friend. What can I do?
Submitted by Counselor at SchoolNet on 4th January, 2009
The fact that your friends say they are having sex, does not mean that they really are or that you should do it too. A lot of friends brag about their sexual adventures to gain false prestige or acceptance from their friends.
It is very normal not to have a girl friend. Do not be pressured by your friends to have a girl friend or try to get one simply to please your friends. We are all different and have different needs at different times. You need to stand up to them and explain your position.
Before engaging in sexual intercourse, think about the responsibilities and the consequences which go with it like pregnancy, STDs, HIV/AIDS especially with unprotected sex. Even if you used condoms as a protection against pregnancy and STDs, they are also negative emotional consequences.