LOG IN   JOIN   BLOG SEARCH   ALL DIARIES
Blog
Issues
Take Action
Donate
About
Youth Resources
My Sistahs
Advocates For Youth
 
Blog - Amplify your voice
No Image
christar
Facebook:  (none)
About Me:
Hey im Christal walker. I am seventeen years old. I intern at Chatham OB-GYN and I am a senior theatre major at Savannah Arts Academy. I want to be an Investment Banker and someday own my own teen center.

Monday, March 1, 2010 at 12:31:00 PM EST

The morning started off like any other, I woke up, got dressed, and decided to make a morning run to McDonald's before school. Now this run was clearly what made me late to school but it was worth something. On my way to school I always turn on "94.1 The Beat" to listen to their morning discussions. This mornings discussion was different from most. The Executive Director got on the air and said, "Parents: this morning's talk is about abortion so if you do not want you children to listen here is a minute warning to change the channel."

The discussion started off with Parr introducing the issue as a response to The New York Times article that stated black women make up 40% of abortions while blacks (as a whole) only make up 13% of the nation's population. Parr spoke briefly on the issue but it was mainly open to listeners to call in and give their comments. One women said, "I do not believe in abortion or birth control -- I am just going to tell my daughters DON'T have sex." Now see comments like this would be great if this were a perfect world, but it's not, and in reality when you tell someone something there is a very likely chance they will not listen to you. Which is why people should be able to make decisions for themselves. They made the decision to have sex, so they should be able to make the decision as to protect themselves with the given consequences. Another called in "Jane" and said her best friend had 3 abortions and they are in medical school and she stated that even though she had a legit reason she still would prefer it if her friend protect herself another way (by using contraceptives) and not just "Trial and Error." Unfortunately this is when I had to sign out, but the overall issue was even though we are in 2010 we still have people who are stuck in the 1900's who feel that if you tell you children or friends to not have sex or protect themselves they will listen. However mistakes happen and people should be given the chance to fix them (should that be there decision). 

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Monday, January 25, 2010 at 2:41:00 PM EST

B.E.S.T High school Located in Kirkland, Washington is the best High School in the United States because it does cater to students that others choose to shut out. B.E.S.T stands for Better Education for Students and Teachers. B.E.S.T. High School caters to discipline issues, addiction, learning disabilities/differences, difficulty adjusting socially, and teen preganancy. Now some of you may disagree and think that they should not have a special school just for these teens but I would have to say "I disgaree with  you". These children have just as many special needs as any other program. I also feel that our real issue with teen pregnancy is societies issue with inability to adapt to teen parents. Teen pregnancy has been an issue sinece before the 20th century however past teen mothers go down in history while todays's teen moms are shunned?!? That is wrong. Past teen mother and fathers included Sacagawea (translator and guide to Lewis and Clark) who was 17 when she gave birth to her first son, to Dwayne Micheal Carter Jr. (commonly known as Lil Wayne) (whose at the time girlfriend gave birth to his first daughter, she was 14 he was 15), to our most recent Bristol Palin (who is now a spokesperson for abstinence). All throughout history Teen parents have been accepted so why is it that as society is progressing the American people's mindset does not progress with it?!?!

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Monday, January 25, 2010 at 1:05:00 PM EST

The others day epsiode of ABC's show Private Practice, was the best real-life scenario of teen pregnancy I have seen in a while. Maya Bennett, daughter of Naomi and Sam Bennett (both doctors) started the show off telling her parents she was the pregnant. The mother Naomi intial reaction to this news was storming out of their conference room clearly upset with this "stupid mistake" as she said her daughter along with many other teens make. Naomi (an anti-abortion mother of one) forced her daughter, Maya, to have an abortion throughout the entire show.  I could not have been more excited to see an episode like this one because it will help in our cause so that when we are talking with those who are anti-abortion we can give them an example of what happens when people are pushed. The main line that stuck in my head from this episode was when, Dr. Addison Montgomery, Maya's godmom and the Bennetts best friend, said to maya that it was her decision whether or not to keep the child. She told her that since she made an adult decison she has to deal with adult consequences that came with it. The show ended with Maya deciding to keep the baby or at least go through with the pregnancy (SN: YAHH) and her mother dragging her out the office forcing her to go through with the abortion. I told all my best about and and this week we will all be watching the next episode to see just what will happen in the Bennett family.

For more infromation:

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 12:47:00 PM EST

"So you would rather a licensed professional kill a child, than for the woman to TAKE CARE of the child herself". This was the statement mad by a fellow classmate of mine when I asked for his support for the recently announced "Join the Hanger Project". I started the conversation like any other; I explained what the issue was with abortion and how our legislators are trying to omit abortion out of health care. Which would lead either women paying a fortune to have a doctor perform the surgery or to them performing the surgery themselves.

 The conversation started off calm and by the time I got around the classroom my fellow classmate asked me was I pro-choice or pro-life. Thoughts ran through the back of my mind as to whether I should answer the question or just avoid it all together.  I went on to explain to him that regardless of my personal views women should be able to make decisions that affect their life without paying a fortune. Well to see as I go to church with this student, and he is quite the one to voice his opinion he then became louder and called me a hypocrite and went on to explain a brutal pro-life abortion aid that out church showed this past May (incidentally during Teen Pregnancy Month).
 
Outraged by the student response I ended the conversation there, put my materials away, closed my binder, and continue on with my new nametag "Christal Walker, Senior, Christian, and Hypocrite". As I walked out the class it reminded much of a novel our class had read for the summer. The prolific novel, The Scarlet Letter. Stunned of what I had encountered thoughts ran through my mind: Is he not a hypocrite for raising his voice and causing a seen, the last time I checked yelling at someone and calling them names was not very "Christian like". I posted this blog because I was not sure what else to do, I was mentally drained and need some inspiration should I be faced with this situation again; let alone go to church Sunday.  
 

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Monday, October 19, 2009 at 12:13:00 PM EDT

THE REAL ACT
By: Christal Walker, Georgia Youth Understanding Pregnancy Prevention
 
Why do I care?
Every day in Georgia over 60 teens become pregnant. The students blame the parents, the parents blame the teachers, and the teachers blame the school system. The list goes on and on and we always end up blaming, the Government. Our government has the power to change many of the old concepts and laws we have set in place. However the people have forgotten that we make up the government. We are the voters who have the choice to pass or oppose certain laws.
 
How does this affect me?
Recently in Savannah, Georgia we held a REAL ACT rally on the courthouse steps to let our voters and members of Congress know how much teens in Georgia care about the education we are receiving. We have to get through to ours legislators that there is an issue when I am sitting in my health class and there is a teen parent right next to me. There is an issue when one in every four teenage girls has received a Sexually transmitted disease or infection by the time they graduated from high school. This means that your daughter, sister, even your child babysitter could currently have or previously had a sexually transmitted disease. You should be graduating with a diploma in honors not Chlamydia and Syphilis! This should not be an issue of who to blame but who will fix it.
 
GEORGIA- Home of the Peaches, the Empire of the South, and not the mention we rank 10th for teen Pregnancy Rates in the nation. Georgia’s teen pregnancy rate is increasing every day and is currently 95 pregnancies for every 1000 women. Georgia also has the seventh highest rate of people living with HIV or AIDS, we rank 10th nationally in teen birth rates, and 2nd in repeat teen pregnancies. It also ranks 6th in Chlamydia, 5th in Gonorrhea, 3rd in Syphilis and 9th in HIV infection. Chatham County currently has an annual pregnancy rate of 698 per year. This rounds out to be about 1-2 pregnancies per day.
 
What is the REAL ACT?
The REAL ACT stands for (Responsible Education About Life) ACT. It will provide funding for states to implement comprehensive sexual education. It will help more teens become aware of the issue they face when engaging themselves in sexual activity. It is age appropriate, stresses abstinence while still teaching contraception methods, encourages family communication, and talks about healthy relationships.
 
How can I help?
You can help by going on the website below and signing the online petition in support of the REAL ACT and comprehensive sexual education. You can also help by getting the word out in you community about the issues Georgia faces with sexual health and what others can do to help.
 
 
 

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Friday, September 25, 2009 at 2:55:00 PM EDT

Savannah is having a rally for REAL ACT Friday, September 25, 2009 (TODAY) on the old courthouse steps. Our advisor, Joel, and his family are here from Atlanta, GA. Tilly and Jaime will represent us. If you will be in the Savannah Area be sure to stop by and help us get the word out about the REAL Act. Special thanks to Antwan "Big Boi" Patton who was our Keynote Speaker last night at the Chatham-Savannah Youth Futures Authority Community Summit. WE all enjoyed your words of wisdom and look forward to working with you again.

With Love
Christal Walker

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 2:41:00 PM EDT

Hello Everyone!

I am like super excited because this is my first blog. The Chatham-Savannah Youth Futures Authorirty is having their annual Community Summit and this years keynote speaker is Antwan "Big Boi"  Patton. He is the board chair for the Big Kidz Foundation. The event is Thursday, September 24 at 6pm at the Johnny Mercer Theatre downtown. Not to mention the event is free! We are welcome to children and parents. We look forward to seeing you there! For any questions please call 912-651-6810.

Christal Walker

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 11:27:00 AM EST
Comments Add Comment
Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Hello everyone this is my first public documentary, so please do not be to harsh but be honest. This is Jessica she is 20 and has a toddler. She was a teengae parent. Who was told by her boyfriend, "I will stay for the baby and you", like many other single teen mothers. However he dissapeared while she was preganant. Anyway I will let her tell the story..



Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This