Blazers Keepin' It Real

The Montgomery County television program Keepin' It Real was filmed today in the Blair Auditorium in front of a live student audience.

The program goes to select schools in Montgomery County to discuss a question posed by the host school. At Blair, the topic was peer pressure and sex. Experts Debra Hauser of Advocates For You; Ed Powell, coordinator of the Young Fathers Responsible Fathers program; Samantha Wood, a sex educator and Lisette Orellana, a high-school student and mother of two were on hand to answer any questions the audience might have. There was also a "posse" of Blair students on stage, and audience members were invited to ask and respond to questions. The host of the show was Rane from WPGC.

Many students had questions of Orellana, who cited a lack of information as the reason she got pregnant. Both pregnancies occurred while she was using contraceptives; the first she was using condoms, the second the patch. Though she did not regret having children, she said, "I would have looked for more information."

The topic of information available in schools came up, as well as what constitutes a virgin and is being a virgin cool. Blazers voiced their opinions loud and clear, showing the responsible views that Hauser claimed are causing a general decline in teen pregnancies, saying, "I'd like to commend you for being responsible.'

The general atmosphere was one of maturity and restraint. The message of the show, clearly stated by Hauser, was whether or not you have sex, "the decision is ultimately with you."

Keepin' It Real airs on cable channel 34 Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. throughout March and can also be viewed online.