The Talk! Everyone’s heard about it whether it be through word of mouth or through real experience. Everyone’s experience with it was and will be different depending on the person and their parents. I like to think that my experience was the craziest of them all but I’m sure it has happened to others before me.

 Hi, my name is Devin from Albany, Georgia. I’m a senior and counting down the days to graduation and my experience all started when I was in elementary school (yes, elementary school). I had friends who all had older brothers and sisters; I was the only one who was the oldest in their family. My friends would all come to school telling stories about their older siblings, mostly about the experiences their siblings would tell them about. I felt kind of jealous; I didn’t have any stories to tell. I felt I should make my own stories to tell, since everyone was telling of someone else, I would speak about myself.

The topic of the day was “The Talk” also known as “The Birds and The Bees.” I just had to hear this. They would all name what their brother’s and sisters were telling them about it. I wanted to know more about this. Being the curious person I am, I decided to go ahead and ask my parents and it. When I asked them they looked at each other, sighed, then took me into my room. I felt somewhat excited—I was finally going to get the talk! —and not from my siblings but from the head chief himself! This was a story that would put me at the top for a while. Then they gave it to me. What was it you ask…..THE BASICS! Ugh. I hated that. They gave it to me straight out the book.

“Sex is for marriage and marriage only.”

“Don’t have sex until you are grown and married.”

“Stay away from temptation.”

“You have many hormones and they will tempt you to do things but you shouldn’t do it.”

It was all simple. I didn’t want that. I wanted to know more, I wanted every specific detail and since I didn’t get it from them, I had to figure things out for myself. I was off to my search. Fortunately for me, I had older friends at church who I knew could tell me what I wanted to know.

I started asking them, but they said I was too young and pushed me to the side. I was hurt but I stayed and listened to them talk. The next day I was off to tell the kids in my class. I was finally at the top, I finally knew more than they did…well that was until I got caught spreading my wisdom to my fellow classmates in a note. My teacher picked it up and since my dad worked down the hall I was sent to his room with the note in the teacher’s hand. I felt so ashamed. My head hung so low the rest of the day.

When I got home I thought I was going to be in so much trouble. I quickly went to my room, but they found me. I knew it was the end for me but, instead of disciplining me like they normally would, they decided to have the talk, the “real” talk. I listened in amazement…there was so much I hadn’t learned and that I didn’t know. And surprisingly, the next day, I didn’t say a word about my talk to the others. I finally got the real talk and I didn’t feel like bragging about it. I was finally growing up. I was proud of myself.

Since I was the first to ask my parents, I was different from others that had their parents start the conversation. Since I am the oldest child, it was their first time giving the talk and they probably were nervous and uncertain, but they eventually told me what I needed to know.

Do you ask your parents questions about sex and love? Is it embarrassing or are they a good resource? Have you had the talk yet? Was it an awkward or a positive experience? Tell us your “talk” experience in the comments!

Devin is 17 and from Albany, Georgia. He is a member of The National Campaign’s Youth Leadership Team. This one time, he did a toe-touch, in front of the White House, while wearing a bow-tie. It was pretty awesome. Have a question for Devin? Email us!