Fulton County Board of Health’s SKYE Program hosted four educational workshops for Atlanta teens in June 2025, and VOX ATL teens facilitated a self-expression and reflection station at the end of each to document teens’ reactions and take-aways. Here teens speak up about what they learned about sexual health and other topics that are important to them today.
What proactive measures can individuals take to foster safer environments to prevent sexual assault?
“Be aware of your surroundings and others’ actions around you.” – Mya, 15
“Don’t go to the bathroom alone.” – Brea, 17
“Walking in groups.” – Lola, 17
“Be around people you trust.” – Jada, 16
“Surround yourself with people you have built loyalty and a relationship with.” – Lincoln, 13
“Don’t allow random people into family/friends events.” – Lamar, 16
“Say no, and no means no.” – Brooke, 14
“Don’t let people manipulate you.” – Cristina, 15
“Use the S.W.A.T. method: say ‘no,’ ask ‘why,’ take alternative measures, and talk it out with your partner.” – Kahleck, 16
“Know the area you are in and have protection like a taser.” – Jordan, 15
“Listen to your child when they say they felt uncomfortable.” – Leah, 15
“Create an environment where someone sees you as a safe person to go to in the case of sexual assault.” – Zarah, 19
“Present yourself as a trustful person.” – Kina, 15
“By being assertive in body language and answer.” – Zach, 17
“Therapy.” – Makiah, 18
“Remember that you have a voice, and it matters.” – Anaya, 17
“Always carry protection.” – Imani, 18
“By letting them know that you are not ready or don’t want to do it.” – Jordan B., 16
“A measure an individual can take to foster a safer environment is to be supportive! And carry a legal firearm!” – Chayse, 18
What’s something about being a teen today that is important for people to understand?
“Develop patience with teens.” – Katilick, 16
“We don’t have it all figured out.” – Makiah, 18
“That all schools aren’t really safe.” – Quavaon, 15
“Nobody wants to hire us.” – Lola and Brea, 17
“You never know what someone’s going through.” – Cristiana, 15
“We are under a lot of peer pressure from our friends!” – Brooke, 14
“Everyone has their own thoughts and opinions.” – Zoie, 14
“Be able to decipher who your real friends are. Do not get too attached to randoms.” – Kynnedy, 14
“It’s really hard, but having a car makes it better.” – Brea, 17
“A lot of teens drive better than adults.” – Lamar, 16
“Social media is a huge part of our lives.” – Jada, 17
“One thing is our feelings.” – Jordan B., 16
“It’s ok to say no.” – Imani, 18
“You are going to make a mistake, so that’s okay. It’s how you learn from them to make a change.” – Anaya, 17
“That everyone is going to make mistakes, but regardless, show respect and love to one another.” – Kayden, 14
“Don’t succumb to pressure/make sure you are living for yourself.” – Kenneth, 18
“We have different emotional capacities compared to mature adults.” – Chayse, 18
“It’s not as easy to get a job and afford a house compared to the past.” – Kendrick, 18
“We feel rushed to know or figure out what we want to do in life.” – Leo, 18
“That being a teen in today’s time is in some ways easier but also the toughest it has ever been.” – Zarah, 19
What’s an important topic that matters to you that wasn’t talked about today?
“Safety in schools.” – Jada, 15
“Economic issues.” – Kahleck, 16
“The importance of social media in young teens’ lives (negatively).” – Kayden, 14
“An important topic we did not talk about is the influence from social media.” – Jordan, 15
“Making the right type of friends.” – Cindy C., 15
“An important topic that matters to me is gun violence and how we can work to stop it.” – Jaylen, 14
“Ways to help someone in the case of sexual assault.” – Zarah, 19
“Sexual assault prevention and steps when in that situation.” – Lola, 17
“How systematic racism is still very prevalent in today’s society, but there are some who pretend it isn’t.” – Kynnedy, 14
“Dealing with abortions.” – Imani, 18
“Maybe on how to go about these situations if, unfortunately, you have a baby.” – Zach, 17
Additionally, Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador and VOX ATL peer leader Reagan Hudson facilitated a poetry activity at one of the SKYE workshops, where teens expressed their reflections through a group poem:
Today was a fun day
A Not-A-Lot of Sunday
It didn’t rain
I just don’t feel the same
A feeling of limbo & fear of falling behind, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m running out of time
A feeling of deep understanding that I just can’t shake, and I know how to be firm in what I say and not break
Today was long, but we all got along
Everyone is able to go home with what we all learned
We will implement our lessons into our lives
Knowing self-love is what we should all own
Cheers to Sex Ed, it will stick in our heads
Great Health is safe sex
Proud choices fill you with respect
Watching the teens learn about safe sex today
It made my day
They understand the content
Remembering that with sex, you have to get consent
I feel informed about the content that was discussed today, varying from pregnancy prevention to HIV/STI information
I now understand why it is important to practice safe sex
I feel that what I’ve learned is helpful for any and everyone
Today impacted me by showing me that even when you feel that you don’t have a support system, there is someone out there who will support you.
You can also listen podcasts created by these teens at these workshops:
Editor’s Note: These self-expression activities were commissioned by Fulton County Board of Health SKYE program, and the content produced reflects the opinions of the participants.
