Take Charge of Your Life. Make a Life Plan.

Ask yourself:

• Do you want to go to college or trade school, or start your own business?
• What career are you interested in? What things are you good at?
• What job will earn the amount of money that could make you financially independent?

Steps to achieve this:

• Work hard in school and stay on track to receive your high school diploma.
• Decide whether or not you want to go to college and talk to your school counselor for guidance and how to apply. DelawareStudentSuccess.org can help you prepare.
• Talk to your school guidance counselor about the next steps with your education, scholarships for school, and how to apply for financial help to pay for tuition.
• Be smart about your digital presence and social media use.

• Aim to make healthier food choices whenever possible.
• Be physically active for at least 60 minutes, 3–5 times a week.
• Stay away from substances such as alcohol, tobacco, vaping, nicotine, marijuana, and illegal drugs. kbgde.org offers information on how to live tobacco- and nicotine-free lifestyles.
• Schedule and attend your yearly regular check-ups with your health care provider and dentist.
• Take care of your health now. Discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your health with your physician.
• School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) are located in school settings offering physical, emotional, and preventative care. Check out locations.
• Ask your parents and family members about their health — some health conditions run in families. They could affect the children you might have someday.
• Make a promise to yourself to stay healthy. Talk to your health care provider about your sexual health — especially about using abstinence or birth control.

Ask yourself:

• Do you want to be in a relationship?

Steps to achieve this:

• Surround yourself with people who care, support, value, and respect you.
• Think before you text, speak, or post something online. Be true to what you value and what kind of person you want to be. Don’t let other people influence you to do something that doesn’t match up with who you are.
• Reach out to a trusted adult and get help if you are feeling bullied in any way such as verbally, physically, relationally, sexually, or cyberbullied.

Steps to achieve this:

• Be in touch with your emotions and pay attention to what makes you happy, sad, or stressed.
• Learning to be honest with yourself and find ways to calm yourself down in tough situations will make you a healthier person — mentally, spiritually, and physically.
• You’re entitled to say “NO” now, even if you’ve said “yes” before.
• Get help from a trusted adult or your health care provider if you feel you are being abused in any way.
• Get help if you feel depressed, anxious, or sad for long periods of time or are thinking of hurting yourself. Dial 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898211, or ask your health care provider for help.

Ask yourself:

• Do you want children someday? If so, when, and how many?
• Do you have a plan to prevent a teen pregnancy? What is your strategy — abstinence or birth control?
• How could a teen pregnancy affect your life and your goals? PowerToDecide.org can help.

Steps to achieve this:

• Stay healthy now — it will give you the best chance of having a healthy baby when the time is right.
• Take the time to learn the facts about sexual health and the reproductive cycle. Learning about your body at a young age can help you understand the changes that it will go through as you are growing through womanhood.
• Wait until you are ready to have sex. Ask yourself, “Am I responsible and ready for a sexual relationship?” and stick to your decision.
• Talk to your partner about how you feel being in a sexual relationship. Practice safe sex and protect yourself from STIs and STDs.
• You’re entitled to say “NO” now, even if you’ve said “yes” before. And if your partner pressures you or doesn’t understand, you don’t have to be with them.
• Discuss your Reproductive Life Plan strategy with your health care provider, counselor, or parent.