I’m very proud to present Dana, whom I met in undergrad as a peer health educator. An amazing person, and inspirational educator.
~Jeffrey
Why I Teach Sex Ed
Dana Forrest
Sexuality Educator
Graduate Student, Widener University
So, what do I do? Currently, I run a Teen Outreach Program (TOP©) that not only addresses sexuality, but also takes a holistic approach with our teens. I meet with groups of teens once a week to discuss topics such as: relationships, love, communication, abstinence, contraception, what sexuality means to them and many other topics. What I like most about this program is that we encourage students to tap into creative expression. It would not be uncommon to walk into my classroom and see students teaching a lesson using Play-Doh, coloring a picture, or going an entire lesson out of their seats!
I am finishing my first year as a duel-degree Master of Education in Human Sexuality and Master of Social Work student at Widener University. Each year that I am in this field, I find I fall in love with new passion all the time. First, I was a peer educator for Rutgers University Health Outreach Promotion Education (H.O.P.E.). This was a phenomenal experience, which has lead me to where I am at now, educating youth.
When I am finished with graduate school, my goal is to become an adjunct professor teaching about this fabulous field of human sexuality. Along with this, I intend to become a sex therapist.
So I’ve told you what I do, and what I’d like to do, but not why. Well… “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”- Confucius. Math was my favorite subject in school, but I thought that a career based on this would not make me happy. I was reading a magazine one day and realized the article was written by a sex therapist. I did my homework, found out what a sex therapist was, and knew that this was the job for me! I got my first internship as an undergraduate with Pinelands School Based Youth Services. I shadowed Family Life Education Counselors/Youth Development Workers/Social Workers, helped teach sexual education in health classes, helped run healthy relationship groups, and helped plan and execute Thanksgiving/Christmas charity drives. This was an amazing experience and really cemented my wanting to join this field and help people every day!
If you want to be a sex educator, I would recommend that you are open to self-reflection. I have changed my views many, many times. Try to look at an argument from all sides, even if you disagree with it!
To teenagers, at least in my experience, their peers have a great influence in their life choices. Driven with a purpose, maybe this young educator can make her own positive mark in the lives of those teenagers she meets.
Dana,
Kudos to you! I can only agree with you 100%. Our sexuality is such an integral part of who we are as humans. I love being a part of the journey that people take to explore all aspects self, especially sexuality. Keep up the good work and I hope you love your journey as much as I have loved mine.