Educational Media Reviews Online

Pressures of promiscuous images in magazines, books, advertisements, media, Internet, peers and friends has embolden young people to act and dress the part. I Should Have Waited paints a vivid depiction of immaturity and lack of practical knowledge about emotional and physical intimacy and the responsibilities that go with it.

The film is about a young teenager, Lisa. Just back from summer camp, Lisa is experiencing her first year of high school. She has missed a lot of “hot” stuff during the summer and is brought up to date by friends. Feeling that her clothes are not fashionable she solicits help and redesigns her wardrobe. Jason, a smooth-talking senior, with one thing on his mind, notices Lisa dolled-out in a new revealing look. Wanting to be “hip” she responds to the advances of Jason and gets webbed in his love game. By convincing Lisa to cut class, in which she serves detention, she begins losing focus of self and her goals in life and becomes obsessed with Jason. Not wanting to be intimate with him, but vowing her love for him, she feels compelled to “give in” and have sex.

The day after, Jason gives her the cold shoulder and moves onto the next girl. Heart broken and suffering from a contrite spirit, Lisa tells her friends of the experience. Learning that she faces the risks of pregnancy, STD’s and HIV, she did not realize how her vulnerability, inexperience and one night with Jason could have affected her entire life. Vowed to focus on school, her goals, and not sex, she learns a hard conscious lesson that she should have waited.

The video provides a realistic view of the consequences of having sex too soon. It provides teens with an opportunity to develop and understand their values, attitudes and beliefs about sex and relationships. There is a teacher’s resource book and student activities on abstinence and peer pressure which addresses not becoming prematurely involved in sexual intercourse.