It seems as though the one thing that has been beaten into us since we could walk is the idea of making smart decisions. However, as it has become more and more apparent through examples by the teens around us, teens do not always take the advice of others.   So when it comes to considering safe sex, many teens still think "it can’t happen to me." 

As a result, more and more teenagers in America are becoming pregnant as time goes on. Statistics show a steady increase in teen pregnancy rates since the 1970s, according to the National Center for Health. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy states that there are now "750,000 teen pregnancies annually. Eight in ten of these pregnancies are unintended and 81 percent are to unmarried teens."  So why so many?

It appears that as teen pregnancy becomes more prevalent it has also become more socially acceptable, even entertaining. Movies such as Juno casually portray a cute quirky high schooler who has a baby and then gives it up for adoption. By the end of the movie, you can't help but cheer her on as a teen idol who has truly done the right thing.  But has she really done the right thing?   The movie doesn't deal with the harsh realities of teen pregnancy or heartbreak of giving up a child for adoption. 

On the flip side, there are television shows such as MTV's Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant who go through the everyday lives of those teens. You see how truly stressed out, and at some points clearly miserable, these people are. It should make you think twice about your life and count your blessings.  But it seems that most teens are watching these shows for entertainment only, not for lessons learned, and once again rely on "it can’t happen to me."

So what seems to be the problem here? Lack of knowledge? Lack of concern? Either way, it seems like the problem is not getting solved all that quickly. One thing that hasn’t been touched on enough is the health dilemma that comes along with teen pregnancy - not just for the baby, but also for the mother. At ages 13-19, your body is not physically at its peak for carrying or delivering a baby, so complications can and do occur.  Premature babies, who require a lot of attention, money and medical help, are common among young mothers.  Last but not least, children who grow up in a household where the parents are not fully grown themselves are not given the best or healthiest of childhoods.

So whether teen pregnancy is being shown on the big screen or happening to the person sitting next to you in calculus, one thing is clear - by making teen pregnancy an entertainment vehicle, the media may not doing the teens of America any favors.  Maybe we teens should take it up as an issue?  At a minimum, we can pass the knowledge onto our friends and families and hopefully help prevent the problem from getting any worse.