Growing up in Texas means your sex education isn’t always thorough. 

The biggest lie I heard during my sex education was that “abstinence is the best way to protect yourself.” Okay, so this might be partially true. Obviously, choosing not to have sex eliminates some potential consequences such as pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.

But let’s be real… by the time students get to college, most of us have had sex, are having sex or are seeking sex. According to a 2011 Centers for Disease Control study of teenage sex behavior, 47.4 percent of teenagers have sexual intercourse in high school. So in some ways, abstinence-only education is taught too late anyway.

It is important to educate students about the different methods of contraception and the risks of diseases that can be spread through sexual activity even if classrooms don’t do that.

Luckily, I have a mom who has always been very open with me about sex (I mean, the woman told me I needed to bring a vibrator to college). Unlike in the classroom, she consistently had an open dialogue with me about sex and made me feel comfortable to ask any questions.

After I had been dating a guy for over a year during high school, we decided it was right to move our relationship to the next level and have sex. I told my mom and she immediately took me to the doctor to get a prescription for the pill. A few weeks later, my boyfriend and I sealed the deal in the back seat of his dad’s car after prom, but that’s a story for another time.

My mom taught me proper sexual protection and continued to support me through my adolescent decisions, sans judgment. Even to this day, she asks me about my sex life. I certainly don’t share all my dirty details with her, but at least she keeps that avenue of conversation open in case I ever need any advice or help.

Considering that Texas has the third highest teenage pregnancy rate in the country following only New Mexico and Mississippi, it is pretty clear that the sex education approach of “abstinence is the best way to protect yourself” isn’t working.

While it is completely fine to abstain from sex, it also totally okay to choose to have sex young — as long as you’re smart about it. Young adults need to be given knowledge about sex so they can make informed decisions. The best way to protect yourself is to understand your options and make appropriate choices when you are ready to have sex.