TEEN DATING VIOLENCE
Teen Dating Violence is an issue that is rarely spoken of but unfortunately is occurring more and more. “One recent national survey found that about 1 in 10 female high-school students and about 1 in 11 male students said they had been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year” (SafeYouth.org) We all love the idea of being in love and having someone to share our everyday with but recognizing a healthy relationship and building those healthy relationship skills is imperative.
Fortunately, I was never in a relationship where I felt any type of abuse, verbal, emotional and/or sexual and hope to never be in one. Yet, growing up in an abusive environment, where I witnessed for most of my childhood, domestic violence between my parents, definitely gave me a first hand experience on what a healthy relationship is versus a non-healthy relationship. The basics of any healthy relationship are respect, trust, loyalty, honesty and overall friendship. Every relationship we experience will be different but all must have the key components or without them there is no relationship. As love will be different for all but common characteristics such as the ones mentioned above are necessary to let love grow and harmonize a relationship.
If you find yourself to be a victim of an abusive relationship or know someone who is, and remember abuse is not just physical, then do your best to speak up and get help. As I once read, “treat the person you date as you would want your future wife/husband to be treated by their current date.” Our behavior is learned and negative behavior will continue to hurt not just us but those who will be with us in the future, if we do not take a stand for change now. Respect from others comes when you respect and love yourself first. Through our program, we talk about preventing early sexual activity before marriage but it’s not just about sex. Abstinence is about empowering yourself in order to make those healthy choices that help in strengthening your character. How are you going to understand the depth of marriage if you are unable to comprehend the basics of a healthy relationship and developing the necessary relationship skills to enjoy a healthy marriage? What are your ideas of a healthy relationship and a healthy marriage?
Jessica Guerra
Manager Proud To Wait
