Back to School Essentials

So it’s that time of year again, when we have to wave goodbye to summer and buckle down into back-to-school mode. Other than having to scramble to finish your summer reading list, buying school supplies, and coordinating class schedules with your friends, there are a few other things you need to do:

  • Find a free clinic near you. It’s always great to know where your closest clinic is. It can be useful for many reasons, including getting birth control and tested for STD’s. If you live in California, you can use our clinic finder here: http://www.teensource.org/ts/find-a-clinic Note: If you’re going off to college, be sure to check if your school has a clinic. Some high schools also have school-based clinics for your use.
  • Be safe with drinking. With back-to-school season, comes back-to-school parties. If you choose to drink, be sure to do so responsibly. Make sure to never leave your cup unguarded. A couple seconds is all someone needs to slip something into your cup without you knowing it. Also make sure to know your limits when it comes to drinking. Both drinking too much or unknowingly being slipped a drug can lead to a major lapse of judgment and control, resulting in some things you may regret in the morning.  It can also be useful to use the “buddy system” – yes the same one you used on elementary school field trips! Having someone to watch your back, and vice versa, can prevent a lot of unwanted occurrences throughout the night.
  • Edit your friend circle. There’s no denying that your friends have a big influence on you. It may sound cliché, but be sure to surround yourself with people who make you into a better person. Relationships are meant to help you grow rather than hold you back.
  • Take a second look at your romantic relationships. Just like with your friends, it is important to make sure you are surrounding yourself with good partners. With boyfriends and girlfriends (and even those summertime romances) sometimes things can go south without you even realizing it and you may end up in a violent relationship. If you sense that you may be in a verbally or physically abusive relationship, try and free yourself from it ASAP. If you need someone to talk to, you can call a variety of hotlines that are there to assist you. You can find a list here: http://www.teensource.org/ts/resources/abuse-and-violence