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There is a student club that steps away from the typical conversation about teens’ sexuality. It is GPS for teen sexuality was organized this year by a group of students from Jiwon Middle school with a help of the advisor, SoYeon Do.

The first event they are going to hold a sex education session for their peers.

The session is called “Ban the generalized and old fashioned thoughts on sexuality.”

It is important to note that students are the ones who conduct research on their peer sexuality and who will lead the session, not a sex education expert. It is healthy to talk about sex.

The conversation about sexuality just needs to grow.

In order to have a healthy view of sexuality and help their peers, six girls, SunMi Kim, SiOn Kim, YeoJin Yu, SeongHyun Yoon, HaeIn Im, MinJeon Jang, and three boys, HyunYoung Kim, JeongMin So, HyunMin Jeong, organized the club.

The members are going to go through a sex education program at Iksan Teen Center for Sexuality and they are going to incorporate what they learn to their session.

SunMi Kim has been participating in this program since she was in the elementary school.

She took her friends to the center to share what she learned there.

“I wasn’t trying to form a club at first. The things that I learned at the center were so different than what I knew about our sexuality, so I wanted to let other students know about what I know and that was the start,” she said.

It is about the big picture of sexual health.

The goal of this campaign is to promote healthy adolescent sexuality, which advocates see as part of the solution to ending sexual violence.

There are many pieces to the puzzle, but building a better talk is an important part of the solution.

Sexuality is more than sex.

Healthy sexual development is about creating a foundation for healthy relationships, choices and behaviors.

Teaching young people skills for relationships and decision-making are keys to success. 

Modeling respectful behaviors and communication supports their overall well-being.

The teen years are a time of change and growth; there is a lot to navigate. 

A better talk challenges misinformation, and gives young people the skills to critically think about media and technology.

 “Our members sometimes argue because there are differences between boys and girls, but we try to cooperate and understand each other rather than just argue,” one of the members said.

“We’re also planning to make a film about teen dating and rape and sexual orientation,” she added.

GPS for teens will help their peers to have more accurate information and access to resources that support development and sexual health.

They are starting a dialogue toward a healthy future. 

It’s time to start talking.

/원문기사=523호 9면 익산 이끌 차세대 루키 GPS 동아리

Words and phrases Intimidating 기죽는 awkward 어색한 peer 동료 ban 금지하다 generalized 일반화된 old fashioned 구식의 promote 선전하다 advocate 옹호하는 사람 violence 폭력 decision-making 의사결정 respectful 존경하는 navigate 항해하다 accurate 정확한 dialogue 대화