After spending an entire day talking to teenagers on topics like sex, pornography, consent, sexting and relationships…what do you think are the most common questions young people ask?
You might assume that as a professional youth speaker, I’d find myself sifting through a number of confronting, shocking and even heartbreaking questions that have been anonymously written down for me to answer in front of the cohort.
On some level, you’d be correct.
There will always be a range of complex and serious questions.
I usually find myself clarifying things like affirmative consent or the legalities around sending and receiving nude images. Of course, amongst the questions, there are young people who are seeking guidance on things like sexual-decision making, peer pressure, pornography and social media.
However, amidst all the questions, there’s one particular topic that makes up the majority:
Relationship Basics 101.
The top 5 most common questions I’ll receive from a group of young people often goes something like this:
👉 How do I know if I like someone or if they like me?
👉What’s the best way to show someone I’m interested?
👉Is it normal to have fights in a relationship?
👉How do I control my anger when I feel hurt or rejected?
👉How do I know if my relationship is healthy or not?
They’re vulnerable.
They’re important.
They’re real.
They constantly remind me how important it is for young people to have a safe space to have these questions answered.
Our heart is this:
💡 That these conversations would happen around the dinner table or in the car ride home from school.
💡 That schools would create a culture where these powerful conversations can happen within the classroom.
💡 That young people would be given space to ask and confide and grow in their understanding of healthy, respectful relationships.
We have an incredible opportunity here. Let’s take it and run with it.
