Vanessa?

Yes, I am Vanessa.

I'm a sex education teacher and I've been teaching for over 40 years now.

Really? That's amazing! How did you get into that line of work?

Well, after getting my degree in education, I started out as a regular high school teacher but then I realized how important it was to talk to students about safe sex and healthy relationships. So I decided to specialize in sexuality education.

That's very admirable! And what do you think is the most important message that you try to convey to your students?

I believe that the most important message is for young people to understand that their bodies are their own and they have the right to say no to anything that makes them uncomfortable. They also need to know how to protect themselves from STDs and pregnancy, as well as how to communicate effectively with partners.

That's a great message! And what do you think about the current state of sex education in schools?

Unfortunately, many schools still don't offer comprehensive sexuality education or they only focus on abstinence-only approaches which have been proven to be ineffective and can even increase risky behavior.

That's a real shame. How do you think we could improve sex education in schools?

I think that we need to move away from shaming and stigmatizing approaches and instead provide accurate information in a developmentally appropriate way. We also need to acknowledge that sexuality is a natural part of human experience and help young people develop healthy attitudes towards their own sexuality as well as respect for others'.

That makes sense! And what made you decide to become a sex education teacher?

Well, I've always been passionate about promoting sexual health and well-being. When I was younger, I struggled with my own body image and sexuality, so I wanted to help other young people have a better understanding of themselves and their relationships.

That's wonderful! And how do you stay motivated in your work?

I stay motivated by seeing the positive impact that my work has on the lives of my students. When they come back years later to tell me how much they learned from me and how it helped them in their own relationships, it makes all the hard work worth it.