I want teens to be able to live their lives without worrying about babies because they know the proper forms of birth control, I want GLBTQ people to actually be accepted fully into society, and I want youth to be taught all of the options of birth control, not just one. 

HP, 17, works with Advocates for Youth and the  Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) as a member of Georgia Youth Understanding Pregnancy Prevention (G-YUPP). 

About two years ago my friend Kaila White started sharing a bunch of information about this advocacy thing with me.  It sounded interesting, but I wasn't quite sure what it was.  Eventually she got me to check out the website, Amplify Your Voice, and I loved it.  I read blogs, emailed congressmen, and read up on the latest issues concerning sexual health.  Eventually Kaila told me that there was an opening in her team.  I applied, and I was accepted into Dalton's G-YUPP.

Now that I'm actually aware of the issues surrounding sexual health, I notice more and more problems in my area.  Teens are getting pregnant but adults are saying there's no problem, adults are being prejudiced against youth for being homosexual, and abstinence only programs are the only ones available in public schools.  I want to be able to help change these things.  I want teens to be able to live their lives without worrying about babies because they know the proper forms of birth control, I want GLBTQ people to actually be accepted fully into society, and I want youth to be taught all of the options of birth control, not just one.  I figure if young people are advocating for these things, change may be more likely to occur because adults and other youth will see that youth actually have a voice in our society.