If a kid is anxious, we can spend an hour talking about the pelvic exam before we actually give the exam, or we can break an exam into two parts. We can be flexible enough so that when kids have crises, medical or psychological, we can fit them in and see them for as long as they need. Teenagers today appear to have a lot more to cope with than they have in the past, particularly now that sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise and young people are electing to have sex at an earlier age. On the other hand, they have access to much more information about the risks of sexual activity. Despite all the media and all of the attention that has been paid to teen pregnancy, the reality is that nothing has changed.
Kids still get their needs met in ways they have always gotten their needs met.
Those needs are so strong and powerful, that the risks are worth it to them and make them feel alive. It is not that they have inadequate knowledge, they actually have more than they have ever had, but they still feel a void of some sort. Especially in the case of young women, they want to be close to someone. Susan Soest is a first-year SSA student. Her field placement is at the Response Center.