Friday, June 21, 2002
When the topic of pregnancy comes up, most young people think, 'That won't happen to me.'
By TRACEY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
ISRUPTIVE. SCARY. TOUGH. LONELY. Irresponsible.
This is how some young people in the Mahoning Valley feel about teen pregnancy.
Nichole Johnson of New Middletown was 15 when she discovered she was pregnant.
"I denied it for three months," said Johnson, who is now 24. "I didn't think it could happen to me."
Johnson was attending Springfield High School. "Things like that don't go over too well there," she said. Her friends were supportive at first, but they gradually disappeared.
Johnson went to live at New Life Maternity Home in Vienna and gave birth to a daughter. She said life hasn't been easy.
"I had to grow up fast," Johnson said.
The National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., recently finished a monthlong drive to raise awareness.
A sampling of Mahoning Valley teens produced a variety of views on the issue.
Poland High School senior Steve Smith said he feels teen pregnancy is a problem, but not a big one among his friends or at his school.
"From what I hear it's getting worse [in the nation], but I'm not very informed on it," Steve said.
Jason Duncan, a freshman at Poland, agreed with Smith. "I think it's a big issue in the nation, but not in our school. Most people in our school are pretty smart."
Perception
Jessica Erck, 17, of Boardman said she thinks teen pregnancy is decreasing and that teens who do get pregnant are more responsible now and often keep the babies. She knows a teen mother.
"I feel bad the way other people stare and make comments," Jessica said. "People assume that just because she's younger, she can't raise the baby as well."
Jessica, a student at Life Skills Center of Youngstown, noted that teens' putting babies in the garbage and taking other desperate measures are what make the headlines.
"You don't hear the good stories about teen parents, just the bad stories. That's why people assume the worst."
Teens say their schools have sex-education classes that are helpful, but also say most teens assume it won't happen to them.
Poland High freshman Tim Phillips said he thinks teens are well educated on the subject.
"I think most people I know would make the right decision, but some people are pretty stupid. I don't want to have a family if I'm in the poorhouse. I would never want to put my wife and kids through that," Tim said.
Not worth it
Kristin Beeson, a freshman at Struthers, said she and her friends look at girls who are getting pregnant and feel that sex isn't worth it.
"I want a career and that [baby] would ruin it. Having a baby would change everything -- hanging out with your friends, your job, going to school," she said.
Karl Gruhlkey, a junior at Poland, said teens should take more responsibility.
"I think it's an issue, but I also think in the same breath it's their own problem," he said.
Jessica said several teen mothers attend her school and she sees how their lives are different from hers.
"Honestly, I really don't think anyone realizes how hard it is. People don't think about it until it's too late, and then you have to deal with it," she said.