i was 17, had just started college with a partial academic scholarship and had made the cheer team for a big football school. i had also just come off of a choir tour that summer with my church youth group. my boyfriend and i thought we were careful. everything i had been working for, for years, would’ve ended. his life would not have changed much. we did not stay together. i don’t know what he is doing now. but i have a degree, a career, had 2 kids in my 30s, have a loving husband of 20 years and made the right decision all those years ago. i am thankful i/we were allowed to make that choice.