I was fortunate enough to get pretty good sex education in school and now I can fight for others to get it too. It has become a passion of mine and I hope to continue to take part in advocacy way past high school.

Paige, 17, works with Advocates for Youth and the AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland as a member of the Ohio Advocates.

My name is Paige Schaffer and I am a part of Ohio Advocates. I first got involved my sophomore year of high school when my history teacher offered our advanced class applications to be on a council which was fighting for comprehensive sex education. I picked one up and filled it out, but I never expected to be chosen. Our advisor, Judith, called me for an interview and that was the first time I realized that I might actually be able to take part in Advocates for Youth. A few weeks later I got the call that I was receiving the welcome packet in the mail to go to D.C.

D.C. the first year was unlike any other. Our group had so much chemistry and so much passion. We created friendships that will last a lot longer than the years we work with Advocates. Now I am a senior in high school, turning 17, and this is my 3rd year with Advocates. It has taught me so much about activism and getting involved, things that I can use for the rest of my life. I was fortunate enough to get pretty good sex education in school and now I can fight for others to get it too. It has become a passion of mine and I hope to continue to take part in advocacy way past high school.