Post by Todd B on Oct 18, 2006 11:15:15 GMT -5
www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/NEWS01/110180009&SearchID=73260243923291
Article published on monroenews.com on Oct 18, 2006
Speaker encourages abstinence
When Ida High School sophomore Amanda Apperson handed over her Playboy purse, all the indignity and disrespect associated with it disappeared.
Amanda recently broke up with her boyfriend and, after listening to sexual abstinence speaker Jason Evert Tuesday, decided that things will be different now when it comes to her relationships.
"He changed my life," Amanda said after the assembly. "If guys want to be my friends, then that's cool. But I will never lose my self-respect again."
After the open and frank discussion with Ida students, Amanda and several others approached Mr. Evert and vowed to change when it comes to relationships. One boy handed to Mr. Evert a handful of what is known as sex bracelets, simple bands whose colors represent different sexual acts.
"Some of these kids don't ever get the chance to hear any of this," said Kathy Jones, a parent who helped bring Mr. Evert to Monroe County. "They're longing for it."
Mr. Evert is a California counselor and author who dedicates his life to spreading a message of chastity, respect and romance without regret. During his visit here, he spoke to more than 2,400 students at Ida, Jefferson and Airport high schools.
Educated in theology and philosophy, Mr. Evert, 29, and his wife, Crystalina, are apologists with Catholic Answers and speak to more than 150,000 teenagers in private and public schools each year.
While in public schools, he does not discuss religion. Instead, he focuses on how girls should maintain their dignity while boys must show respect and embrace virginity, not be afraid of it.
"We've been told that if you're still a virgin, there's something wrong with you," he told the students. "This is not a condemnation. It's a calling to a better kind of love."
using humor and personal experiences that he openly shares during his discussions, the message is more easily accepted by teenagers who often might find the subject uncomfortable or perhaps even trivial.
"It's not like it isn't a big deal," said freshman Kaitlyn Hoppert-Fox. "It is a big deal."
"He related to us," added freshman Molly Daniels. "He made jokes but he didn't joke about it."
Mr. Evert challenged students to treat one another with respect. He told them to think about their futures when contemplating casual sex. One day they might be married, he said. Would they want someone disrespecting their future spouse like they plan to disrespect their current girlfriend?
"Love means you do the best for her," Mr. Evert said, directing the boys. "The longer she waits, the happier she'll be."
As for girls, he suggested dressing more moderately. Too much revealed eliminates mystery and eventually has the opposite effect, Mr. Evert said.
"A guy gets bored because he loses respect," he told them. "When a girl is getting used, she knows it."
Donations and Heartbeat of Monroe paid for the visit, said Heartbeat Executive Director Shelly Ratz. As a parent, she welcomes Mr. Evert's talks, hoping the message will inspire teenagers to discuss abstinence and sex with their parents.
"The kids are so blunt with each other and he's blunt with them," Ms. Ratz said. "It opens more opportunity for conversation."
Many students said they appreciated the discussion because it is a topic not often addressed. And, they believe, what Mr. Evert said and how he said will have an affect on future decisions.
"It makes you look at yourself," said Kaitlyn. "It makes you think of who you are and what you want."
Article published on monroenews.com on Oct 18, 2006
Speaker encourages abstinence
When Ida High School sophomore Amanda Apperson handed over her Playboy purse, all the indignity and disrespect associated with it disappeared.
Amanda recently broke up with her boyfriend and, after listening to sexual abstinence speaker Jason Evert Tuesday, decided that things will be different now when it comes to her relationships.
"He changed my life," Amanda said after the assembly. "If guys want to be my friends, then that's cool. But I will never lose my self-respect again."
After the open and frank discussion with Ida students, Amanda and several others approached Mr. Evert and vowed to change when it comes to relationships. One boy handed to Mr. Evert a handful of what is known as sex bracelets, simple bands whose colors represent different sexual acts.
"Some of these kids don't ever get the chance to hear any of this," said Kathy Jones, a parent who helped bring Mr. Evert to Monroe County. "They're longing for it."
Mr. Evert is a California counselor and author who dedicates his life to spreading a message of chastity, respect and romance without regret. During his visit here, he spoke to more than 2,400 students at Ida, Jefferson and Airport high schools.
Educated in theology and philosophy, Mr. Evert, 29, and his wife, Crystalina, are apologists with Catholic Answers and speak to more than 150,000 teenagers in private and public schools each year.
While in public schools, he does not discuss religion. Instead, he focuses on how girls should maintain their dignity while boys must show respect and embrace virginity, not be afraid of it.
"We've been told that if you're still a virgin, there's something wrong with you," he told the students. "This is not a condemnation. It's a calling to a better kind of love."
using humor and personal experiences that he openly shares during his discussions, the message is more easily accepted by teenagers who often might find the subject uncomfortable or perhaps even trivial.
"It's not like it isn't a big deal," said freshman Kaitlyn Hoppert-Fox. "It is a big deal."
"He related to us," added freshman Molly Daniels. "He made jokes but he didn't joke about it."
Mr. Evert challenged students to treat one another with respect. He told them to think about their futures when contemplating casual sex. One day they might be married, he said. Would they want someone disrespecting their future spouse like they plan to disrespect their current girlfriend?
"Love means you do the best for her," Mr. Evert said, directing the boys. "The longer she waits, the happier she'll be."
As for girls, he suggested dressing more moderately. Too much revealed eliminates mystery and eventually has the opposite effect, Mr. Evert said.
"A guy gets bored because he loses respect," he told them. "When a girl is getting used, she knows it."
Donations and Heartbeat of Monroe paid for the visit, said Heartbeat Executive Director Shelly Ratz. As a parent, she welcomes Mr. Evert's talks, hoping the message will inspire teenagers to discuss abstinence and sex with their parents.
"The kids are so blunt with each other and he's blunt with them," Ms. Ratz said. "It opens more opportunity for conversation."
Many students said they appreciated the discussion because it is a topic not often addressed. And, they believe, what Mr. Evert said and how he said will have an affect on future decisions.
"It makes you look at yourself," said Kaitlyn. "It makes you think of who you are and what you want."