The pressure to have sex in college is amplified compared to anywhere else in life; the students in their prime, the yummy mixed drinks that somehow keep getting refilled and massive amounts of PDA that ensue on the dance floor are not easy to avoid. Although it may seem like everybody is paired off or hooking up each night, sex is still a sacred thing to many people.
It’s not bad to engage in sexual activity. It’s physically healthy, it’s a stress-reliever and above all, it is a way to show affection for somebody – even if that ‘somebody’ is a different person each weekend. College is the essentially the easiest place to engage in sex as well; so many new people, no bedtimes and no having to sneak around. However, sex is not a bandwagon activity, and you cannot just do it because “everyone else is doing it.” The truth is, not everyone else actually is.
In middle school, we learned the risks that come with sex, STDs, infections, unplanned pregnancies, and in high school, we saw them take place firsthand. Now we’re in college, and the stigma of sex takes a completely different tone. It’s not something to be feared or to consider taboo; in fact, it’s an activity we’re encouraged to embrace by our peers. Still, the risks that they taught us years and years ago are still relevant.
Virginity is a personal topic (unless you’re Ashley I. from Bachelor) and it needs no defense.
It’s OK to still be a virgin in college because college is a place to find your identity and build a foundation for the rest of your life, and your virginity is part of that. Whether you’re waiting for the right person, you’re afraid of catching a disease or you just don’t feel personally ready to commit that act, your decision needs no justification. While sex is glorious and gratifying, it can also have its repercussions, especially on a college campus.
Yes, there are tons of new guys to choose from who look and feel way older than the dweebs you dealt with in high school. The bottom line is that they’re still boys who can carry diseases and act like jerks. At the same time, many guys are genuinely nice and will respect your decision to wait. There are even guys who, despite what they insinuate, are still virgins as well.
College is a time to learn, let loose and live your life without any ties or (major) responsibilities. These four years are absolutely sacred and should not be dictated by how far you’ve gone with a girl or guy. Let your mind and your body explore the opportunities a college campus has to offer, and make your decisions based on what you feel is right as opposed to what seems is right.
And if you are having sex, remember the risks are the same when you’re in college as they were when you were 13. Use protection, be conscientious of who you’re with and have fun!
