Mr. Dressel,
Hey what's up? I liked your speech a lot. It was very deep. It made me think a lot about life in general and relationships. A speech like that could change a lot of high schoolers morals, goals, and way of life. However unfortunately by your 11 th and 12 th grade year it's already too late. You should definitely continue to give this speech out but to 10 th and maybe even 9 th graders as soon as possible. I also think you should speak to a wider audience. More people. There are a lot of kids out there doing adult things without adult consequences. The only thing is that a lot of high school guys aren't looking for long term relationships, but I think girls are, and you were right. I would love to talk more about this and I think you should continue talking about it.
~ teen guy
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Dear Mr. Dressel,
Thank you for coming to speak to our class. I think a lot of what you said hit home with the majority of students. I was really impressed with your two teen speakers. It took a lot of courage to say what they did and I really thought about what they said, and will continue to think about as years go on. Please continue to talk to teens. We need people to talk to us honestly and I think you can do that.
~ teen guy
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Mr. Dressel,
I was in the third period class that you spoke with and I just want to say that what you said really had an impact on me. When you were saying how most guys just talk without meaning it, and how most relationships end in college, it made me think about the relationship I'm in right now. Although I strongly believe that I will be with this person for a long time, it still makes me wonder, and to be honest, the thing I do worry about the most is losing this person, it would crush me, and I have lost my virginity to him and losing that wasn't bad but if I lost him, that would be. What you said really made me realize that maybe I should slow down and make some changes. I want to be with this person forever so maybe I will work on the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional parts before I progress in the physical part. Thank you so much and I thought it was really worth it to hear you talk.
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Erik,
I wanted to thank you for coming and talking to our class. It was hard for me to listen to because I've just been going through a traumatizing sexual relationship with my ex-boyfriend. We were dating for 5 months and then broke up, but we continued with our sexual relationship. This went on for about 2 or 3 months until about a week ago when he wrote me a note degrading me as a slut and a whore. It crushed me but your talk really related to that relationship. It was very hard for me to listen and I had to keep my head down and just sort of cry but I wanted you to know that even though my head was down the whole time I was listening and it did have an effect on me. Thank you for coming and talking.
~ teen girl
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Dear Erik,
Thank you so much for the talk you gave our class. I know for a fact that you speech affected one of my friends in this class. Thank you so much, you are a great teacher and I'm glad you spoke to us.
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Dear Emily,
I admire you for choosing not to have sex. I love the idea of wearing a ring. You gave me many things to think about. Thank you so much for everything.
~ teen girl
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Dear Erik Dressel and Emily,
You will really change me and my relationship. I will never forget your chart you made. Now Emily I like that ring idea, I will get one for my sister so she will be sex free and I like that idea for her. Because guys say things about her being hot and I want to hurt them but the ring will probably make me feel better.
~ teen guy
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Dear Erik Dressel,
I remember you…you came in my 9 th year, and talked to my gym class but that more generalized. This time there was a more emotional, theological depth to it. Your speech was great, you found ways to simplify it without patronizing us. It made a lot of sense to me. I have a rough history as far as relationships, and trouble in general. But 2 days after me writing this letter I've not had sex. I'm holding back out of fear of it changing everything I have with her. That part of your speech about how love is actually helping your partner or significant other grow and become a better person. This young woman that I affectionately refer to as…changed my life. I'm avoiding people that would cause me to fall back into drugs. She encourages me to write and race. Both of us came to grips with our pasts and support each other completely. Your speech helped me realize how lucky I am to have her and what I have with her is special, why have sex ruin it.
~ teen guy
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Dear Erik Dressel and Emily Roberts,
Thank you for coming and talking to our class. It really meant a lot to me; you made me realize that it is good to wait definitely when you have someone to share it with and love. And I have decided from here on out to have self control and not have sex until I get married. Thank you so much, I will now value what I have to share with other people.
~ teen guy
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Mr. Dressel,
Your speech has been in my head ever since you presented it to my class yesterday. One thing that you said really has stuck with me. It was that there really is a guy out there that will cherish you for you…just the way you are. I have never believed that before yesterday. I always felt as though it was all lies, but for some reason when you, a complete stranger, said that, it just made me think…maybe I really will mean something to somebody. I guess I have never felt as though I was worth the effort of anyone, but I'm second-guessing my theory. Thanxs! Also, your fireplace analogy was an awesome mental image. You got my attention with it. You also said that guys like a challenge when it comes to a girl. You really got me thinking about that one. Maybe I'll try that one out on my boyfriend…see if it's really worth it. Thank you so much for making me look at my views from another perspective…it's something I guess I need to do more often! Thanxs again!
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Dear Erik Dressel,
Thank you for your presentation about abstinence. It was effective to most kids in class. I myself and friends said that they thought it was very influential. I thought it was awesome that you brought High School students to speak to High School students. They were great and it made me think and when I am put in a position to have sex I will think of this presentation and I will become more confident about saying “no”. Thanks again.
~ teen girl
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Dear Emily,
You are my inspiration. I have never heard of anyone who feels the same as me. I want to save myself until I am married. I admire you courage to com all the way here and get infront of the class and tell us. I sometimes feel like I am the only one who is saving myself. It is so hard and there are so many pressures. I really admire your feelings and you give me hope to stick with my belief. I want to thank you so much for coming and talking with us. You are a truly amazing person and I really admire you. Thank you again.
~ teen girl
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Dear Mr. Erik Dressel,
Thank you so much for coming to my school to speak to my Health class. I learned a lot about relationships from you and I will definitely keep your advice in mind. I thought it was really cool how you said, “even if you're not a virgin, you can practice abstinence.” Some kids don't think that it is true, but it is. You can always start on a clean slate. I admire the work that you do and your willingness to help teens that don't necessarily have the opportunity to talk about this topic with their parents. I'll take all the help I can get! Thanks Again!
~ teen girl
PS. If you see Emily tell her thank you too! She boosted my self esteem and stuck up for women! She was great!
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Dear Erik,
Thank you for coming to talk to my class. Something that meant a lot to me was when you drew that chart showing what sex/ physical relationship has on a couple. This meant a lot to me because I have been with this guy and that basically described our relationship. I then realized that it was not a good relationship for me/ him. Thanks again for speaking to us.
~ teen girl
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Dear Erik and Emily,
Thank you for coming to class and shedding some light on why we should remain abstinent. I agree with what both of you said. It didn't sound like you were being “In our face” like other speakers have been. You didn't make light of the subject, but you made it lighthearted enough that we understood your views without feeling harassed. You're talented speakers.
~ teen guy
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Erik Dressel,
Thank you so much for talking to our class. It made a big impact on me. When I left class to go to lunch with my friends I started telling them about it and thought they should put come thought to what you said. Most of them just blew me off but I had a good talk with my friend who is dating my best friend and I think it really impacted him as well. Thanks a lot.
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Thank you Mr. Dressel for coming to talk to us. I think it is important for people like you to come and talk to High school kids about this very important topic of sex. I know that a few of my friends who heard and understood what you said have really been touched by it and want to cease the life style they lead, that is in thanks to you. Well done Mr. Dressel and thanks again for taking time out to tell and inform teens like me of the importance, consequences and realities of sex.
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Dear Erik Dressel,
Thanks so much for coming in and talking about how we should wait for the right person to come around instead of just having sex with anyone who walks by. I'm still a virgin and I do believe you should wait for someone special. Last night I was with a guy and he straight out asked me if I wanted to hook up and because of your speech it gave me confidence to say no and feel good about it. Thanks so much!
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Dear Mr. Dressel,
Thank you for coming and talking to us. Your values really gave me insight. It's also great to hear someone else say it's ok to wait for sex till your married. This is because when everyone around you is having sex it's hard to be an individual and really go against the crowd. It also helped to remind me about the risks of sex like STDs or getting pregnant. I hope you keep spreading the word, because it was awesome. I'm sure you'll save a lot of people from heartache in the future.
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Dear Mr. Dressel,
I really enjoyed your abstinence talk and I totally agree with you on everything. I believed in abstinence before you visited with us but I'm glad you came to try to influence a lot of my friends to become abstinent because I know a lot of them aren't. I'm also glad you explained all the reasons for being abstinent because before, only my religious beliefs were holding me back but now I have more reasons for remaining abstinent. Also, now I'm more informed to help others who are in tough situations when it comes to sex. Thanks again and I hope that this knowledge can get across to some of my friends.
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Dear Mr. Dressel,
Thank you for coming into our class to spend your time with us. Your speech helped me to understand the levels of intimacy in good and bad relationships. Your explanation of very physical relationships in which all other levels of intimacy drop, really was very accurate in my opinion. The fact that you said that people in relationships like this tend to stay in the bad situation for a while is because it would be harder to let go and they therefore realize that they should not have had sex at such an early age, when they only thought they were really in love, was very true. A good friend of mine is in a similar relationship and your talk helped me to maybe better understand why he may be in this relationship with a guy who treats her like crap. Also, it helped me to realize that I should maybe help her when she eventually calls the relationship because it will be very hard on her. I have to be there for her and build up her confidence so she doesn't fall for someone else and make the same mistake. Thanks again, it meant a lot to me.
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I really enjoyed your presentation on abstinence. After class, I thought about it throughout the day and I discussed it with my friends. I now understand how important abstinence can be, and I would like to thank you for discussing it with our class.
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Mr. Dressel,
First of all I want to thank you for being so kind, and coming into our class to share your knowledge and hopefully, better our future in a healthy relationship. Mostly everything you said I agree with. And I hardly ever agree with anyone. You made a big impact on my future relationship (if I ever have any!) by persuading me to wait, because of the outcome of the relationship.
~ teen girl
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Mr. Dressel,
First of all, I want to thank you for coming in yesterday. Personally, I learned a lot from what you told us. I like how you made the reference to a fire- how it's safe when it's in the fire place, but dangerous when it gets out of its boundaries. To tell you the truth, I always knew that having intercourse should be special, but I guess I always had that stereotypical thought of how sex could show affection and express true love. I can't agree with you more about how our generation tends to skip the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual part of the relationship. It's becoming a major issue. I hope you'll continue to speak to teens and share how you've learned from your experiences. Thanks.
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Mr. Dressel,
I thought that your presentation was very well put together. I do, however, think that it would be more beneficial to give the presentation to a younger grade level, like 9 th or 10 th. Seniors, unfortunately, have already had sexual experiences, so a discussion on abstinence is a little late by then. I was really touched when you said that everyone is valuable and precious. That particular statement would probably help those who have low self-esteem. I definitely agree that all 4 of those areas (emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual) have to be balanced. Keep up the good work.
~ teen guy
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Mr. Dressel,
Hey, I just want to thank you for speaking to the class. Even though it is a little late for a lot of us, I took a lot of things to the heart. One thing you should do is talk to 9 th graders early in the year. Most people turned sexually active in 9 th or 10 th grade.
~ teen guy
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