What else can I do while I am on the way to getting my degree?
Become a Peer Educator!
See if your college has a Peer Education program. Peer Educators are individuals who teach people of their own age group about sexuality matters, drug/alcohol information and discuss relationship issues. Peer education is effective because people are more apt to understand and apply information presented to them because it came from someone of their own age group. It also is empowering to the peer educators themselves!! They are learning valuable, marketable skills like public speaking, education skills, and health information. Peer Educators receive intensive training that enables them to educate and provide resources and referrals to other students on various health-related issues (sexuality and relationships are often key). Once trained, peer educators then design workshops for their peers and present them at residence halls, fraternities, sororities, health weeks, and large events held on campus.
Get a Mentor!
A mentor is an individual who guides you through the process of getting into the field of human sexuality. Someone who challenges your thoughts, peaks your interest on new information, and is someone you can bounce ideas, thoughts, concerns off of. They can also bring you to major events and introduce you to important people in the field. Try to find a certified sexual health educator, counselor, or therapist in your area by looking in the phone book, newspaper, HMO directory, alternative newspapers, or AASECT. The most important organizations for those working in the field of Human Sexuality, as they are the people who give the certification of being a reputable sexuality educator, counselor, and/or therapist. Anyone can say they are a “sex educator” but to be backed by AASECT shows that you have undergone numerous requirements and that not only are you a sexual health educator, therapist, or counselor, but that you are reputable. A certified sexual health educator, therapist, or counselor can help you in numerous ways by linking you with all the right organizations, events, people, and issues that are taking place in the world of sexuality that you might not know of. Ask if you can donate your time to help them with their work (grading papers if they are a professor, scheduling appointments if they are a counselor, etc.).
Internships!
Internships are highly recommended because they are a good way of opening the door into the field you want to work in. At the end of this section there is a list of organizations that are dedicated to the field of human sexuality. Write them a letter stating how you would like to intern at their organization. Not only will you gain valuable skills, you will be adding to your resume!
Experience a SAR (Sexual Attitude Reassessment)
A SAR is required if you are planning on becoming certified through AASECT. A SAR is an intense professional learning experience in which you are “bombarded” with a variety of sexually explicit media (relating to a variety of sexuality issues). Then with the assistance of skilled professional facilitators you process your feelings, values, and experiences. SARS can last as few as two days and as long as five. It is a way to put you in touch with your “trigger points” and identify your comfort level with different aspects of sexuality and sexual expression. You can find out where SARs are located in your area by contacting AASECT or SSSS (Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality).
Join a Professional Society
Some societies will only accept scientists with publications behind their names, but some of them accept interested lay people or students as well. Some relevant professional societies include:
- American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)
- American Board of Sexology (ABS)
- Association for Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP)
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)
- Sexuality Information Council of the United States (SIECUS)
- Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS)
- World Association for Sexology (WAS)
- The Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR)
- International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH)
Subscribe to a Journal
There is no better way to be on top of all the major issues taking place in the study of sexuality than to read about them. Some relevant professional journals include:
- The Journal of Sex Research
- Sexual Science
- The Journal of Sexual Medicine
- Sex and Disability
- The American Journal of Sexuality Education
- The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy
- International Journal of Sexuality and Gender Studies
- Culture, Health and Sexuality
They can be accessed at a college or university library, or online.
