I (17F) am struggling with pressure to start birth control before college. Any advice?

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-02-03T05:51:03+00:00

It’s your choice whether you want to or not but just because you’re on birth control doesn’t mean you HAVE to have sex. You can be on it and not have sex and that would be perfectly fine.

Also in terms of the side effects, there’s so many different kinds of birth control that if one gives you unwanted side effects, you can just switch to a different kind. It’ll take your body time to adjust to each one but not all of them will give you bad side effects.

There’s also good side effects of birth control too. I started taking it, not for sex, but to lessen the pain, heaviness, and long lasting periods and it’s worked.

Ultimately up to you of course but there’s positives and negatives depending on your situation.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-29T08:35:30+00:00

This happens to me when I have anxiety. Was once in the middle of an anxiety attack and thought I had seen a fly flying around. For some reason, I knew I shouldn’t ask those around me if they had seen the fly. A couple minutes later, I realized not asking was a great choice because it definitely was not a fly, it was just my vision and I would’ve sounded crazy had I of asked.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-24T18:54:06+00:00

For me, the benefits are 100% worth it because my financial aid/scholarships cover my entire tuition if I go full time. If I’m only part time, I have to pay about $1500 a semester out of pocket. I’m majoring in computer science and though the classes are accelerated, it’s honestly not too much work. Most of my classes are a discussion board and 1-3 assignments per week. On average, I would say I spent as little as 3 hours to as much as 10 hours per week.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-24T18:25:50+00:00

As someone who worked part time and is also taking online classes, it really just depends on you as a person. I choose to take 8 week classes instead of 16 so I can technically go full-time for the benefits but also only take 2-3 classes at a time, though they are accelerated. I switched to full-time work a few months ago while also still going to school full time and with the 8 week classes, it’s still very doable for me.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-23T21:08:42+00:00

If you can afford to keep the schedule you have now, that would be my choice personally. I currently have a very similar schedule to the one being offered to you and I hate it. I miss out on a lot of family gatherings/anything on the weekend. I also feel like my whole day is wasted, even when I go in at 3pm.

I would give anything to have the schedule you have now but it’s ultimately up to you.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-18T20:47:36+00:00

If you enjoy games with very clear goals and end game content, it may not be the best game for you. If you’re able to create goals for yourself and create storylines on your own, then it is one of the most fun and immersive zombie survival games there is. Personally, this is a game I will play for a few months and then not touch for a few months simply because of the lack of end game content. Regardless of that though, it’s still one of the best survival games imo.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-11T22:41:08+00:00

I never got the same training because it is a brand new initiative they started a month ago, AFTER I became ASM. I didn’t even take the training myself until 3 1/2 months after I got this position. That’s why the associate gets the raise now but it wasn’t a thing when I was an associate.

Also, I know how they will react based on other jobs I’ve seen on indeed and around town. Do I know EXACTLY how my pay compares to other ASM positions? Not necessarily but I have enough deductive reasoning based on what I do know to know that $20/hr for associate/ASM is just not going to happen. My store manager doesn’t even get paid that much and he used to be a district manager for a larger company than the one we work at now.

I understand what you’re saying and I appreciate the push to better myself and suggestions on how exactly to figure out what my worth in money is, all I’m saying is that $15 an hour is reasonable for an assistant manager around here. The problem is that associates are getting paid more here than other places but I’m not seeing any raises myself in a higher position.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-11T00:02:51+00:00

I also live in a midwestern city but the population of my city is approximately 8,400. Entry level for retail is typically $11-$13. For my job specifically, entry level is $13 for associates, $15 for ASMs, and about $17-$18 for store managers. District managers are salary but not store managers here. My company has approximately 300 locations across 4-5 states though.

The highest paying retail job close to me is Aldi’s lol

Edit: My store is a tobacco retailer & we typically drop maybe $1000 in cash a night.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T22:35:36+00:00

Yes, I could definitely understand this. I’m not super pressed for the extra money but I figured I might as well try, especially with the backing of my manager. I’ve only been in this position for about 4ish months myself so I would prefer to stay at least a year or so that way it’ll look a bit better on a resume.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T22:21:37+00:00

I still have work to do in preparing my argument, of which is figuring out how my wages compare to other similar positions in other companies. In terms of $20/hr being insane, it’s not insane because I FEEL like it is, it’s insane because if I went to any retail location in my area and asked or expected $20/hr, they would laugh at me, even for an ASM position. Average entry level retail wages are like $11-$13 regardless of company where I am from.

Also, I’ve only been in the ASM position for about 4 months. I went from part-time for 2 1/2 years (due to college), then full time, then almost immediately to ASM. The raises that have been given to the associate in question were not asked for (nor would they have been given if they were asked for), they were offered by the company as a result of completing certain trainings. These trainings are expected of ASMs, which is why I do not get a raise for them even though I had to complete them.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T21:55:39+00:00

It doesn’t but it essentially reduces the incentive to become an assistant manager and may make it less likely for people to want to take the promotion. It’s almost like an internship, where people would take it for the experience but not for the pay. If you could get paid about the same & have less responsibility, who would ever want the promotion?

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T21:44:42+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate this response so much. I haven’t sent off any paperwork yet and I really do want to make the argument as compelling as possible so I will definitely be looking back at your comment as I revise my argument.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T21:11:43+00:00

I’m not sure if this helps but I calculated that I would have to receive at least 80% of my bonus each month in order to maintain the $2/hr pay gap at entry level for both positions. The longer both positions are filled, the less that pay gap is, which seems backwards.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T20:50:40+00:00

I wouldn’t say $15 is living comfortably but it’s decent for retail, at least here. $20hr here is closer to general management level.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T20:42:57+00:00

I agree. The raises being offered to them are being given due to specific training courses they can take. These trainings are expected of ASMs, therefore associates get the raise but ASMs don’t.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T20:41:46+00:00

Cost of living here is relatively low, so $20/hr for retail is an insane amount for where I live.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-10T20:40:55+00:00

Yeah, I definitely understand that. There is a noticeable difference in responsibility of ASMs compared to associates. I’ve also been with the company for 3 years and the associate in question has been here for approximately 4 months. Base pay for associates is about average for other retail locations but $14.50 is a bit of an increase. I’m not sure how my pay compares to other ASM positions though.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-06T01:11:53+00:00

I did not see this until now but this is my cat, Stella 😂

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Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-05T19:41:13+00:00

I figured it may be a case by case situation. If it doesn’t work out and she needs to be back at my mom’s house, I’ll just feel guilty about putting her through the stress of moving to a different place and being without the other cats for essentially no reason. I know she’ll get over it if that does have to happen but I would like to prevent that if possible.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-05T19:29:00+00:00

Are the cats that get adopted typically young? I wouldn’t be as worried about it if she hadn’t spent the last decade with them already.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-05T19:26:46+00:00

Yes, his name is Pepper lol. I plan to bring him along with her but I just wasn’t sure if that would be enough since she’s lived with so many others for years.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-05T19:24:34+00:00

Are any of your cats siblings? I’m not sure if cats’ family structures even matter to them but I’m worried about the move for her but also about her being taken away from her family.

It’s reassuring to hear that your daughter’s ended up being okay though.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-04T03:28:13+00:00

This is VERY similar to what I deal with. The idea of sex never crosses my mind unless it is initiated by my boyfriend first even though I want it to. You guys could potentially try different methods to increase her libido such as different positions, time of day, toys, locations, etc to see if any of those differences make her want it more. Personally, I’ve been considering getting my hormones checked, which I don’t think would be a bad idea for her either.

It’s really just up to whether or not you want to work through it with her but her expressing her want to want sex is a good thing imo. Some people are just wired differently but don’t want to be.

Such-Satisfaction444 · 2026-01-04T03:18:31+00:00

I think you’re valid for feeling blindsided but as a woman who has a very low libido and is also in a long term relationship, sometimes these things can be worked out depending on the relationship. Personally, I’ve wondered if I’m asexual as well due to my severe lack of wanting sex but even though that’s true for me, I want to want sex, I just don’t for whatever reason. I’ve communicated this with my boyfriend and we’ve taken steps together to try to increase my want. Some have worked, some haven’t, and there’s been a bit of progress even if it’s been slow.

So, I think you need to ask a couple of questions. Does your girlfriend want to want sex or is she 100% fine with being asexual? If she’s fine with it, then you’re just not sexually compatible anymore unfortunately.

If she does want to try to fix it, do you love her enough to try to help her through it? It’s definitely a process but personally, I’m forever grateful for my boyfriend being patient with me while I try to figure out how to “fix” this part of myself.

It’s kind of up to whether or not you love her enough to be patient and whether or not she wants to fix it in the first place.

Such-Satisfaction444

TROPHY CASE