When Tameca Harris-Jackson was a freshman at Old Dominion University in Virginia, one of her dormitory mates came bursting into her room, crying inconsolably. 麻豆精品 S淪he said she was pregnant, 麻豆精品 S says Harris-Jackson, who teaches social work at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淪he didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know what she was going to do about it. 麻豆精品 S
As Harris-Jackson listened to the young woman, her tale unfolded. It became clear there was no way she could have been pregnant. The 麻豆精品 S渆vent 麻豆精品 S had happened just the night before, and impregnation would not have been possible.
She calmed the young woman, and gave her a mini-human sexuality lesson. It became clear that this young woman was not alone in her beliefs 麻豆精品 S or lack of beliefs 麻豆精品 S about all the workings of the human reproductive system. 麻豆精品 S淚 felt like I needed to do something, 麻豆精品 S Harris-Jackson says.
It was a defining moment for Harris-Jackson.
She became the unofficial resident expert on human sexuality to her peers, answering questions from persons of all backgrounds. She heard, 麻豆精品 S淗ow does one get pregnant? 麻豆精品 S all too frequently. Harris-Jackson says questions were occasionally accompanied by a snicker or a guffaw. She always tried to answer them in the manner she had gleaned from her unofficial mentor, Ruth Westheimer, a talk-show host who gained fame for bringing discussions about sex and sexuality to radio and television.
Soon, it became clear there was a need in all society for more resources about sex and sexuality. As she was pursuing her master 麻豆精品 S檚 and doctoral degrees, Harris-Jackson would still get questions from people who wanted to know why she wanted to be a sex therapist 麻豆精品 S a totally different area of study. Today, she 麻豆精品 S檚 a licensed clinical social worker and a certified sexuality expert.
Not much has changed in the 20 years or so since she was an undergraduate student. 麻豆精品 S淧eople are hungry for information about sexuality at any age, 麻豆精品 S Harris-Jackson says.
In her presentations to students, Harris-Jackson 麻豆精品 S檚 professionalism and non-judgmental demeanor offer the assurance that no question that is asked will be mocked or disregarded.
麻豆精品 S淒r. HJ is so excited about what she teaches, that it draws you in. You don’t want the experience to end, 麻豆精品 S says Nicole Smith. 麻豆精品 S淪he showed the importance of being able to be open about speaking about sexuality at whatever age. 麻豆精品 S
In her recent LINK (Learning and Interacting with New Knights) presentation at UCF, 麻豆精品 S淪ex and the Senses, 麻豆精品 S Harris-Jackson discussed the five senses while simultaneously educating students and participants on safer-sex practices. About 70 students attended the event, says Gabe Martinez 麻豆精品 S16, sexual wellness coordinator for .
麻豆精品 S淒r. Tameca really goes into the chemistry of the aphrodisiacs, 麻豆精品 S Martinez says. With tastings of chocolate, strawberries and honey, Harris-Jackson encouraged the students to be aware of the role their senses play in sensuous settings.
麻豆精品 S淚 was blown away by her presentation, 麻豆精品 S Martinez says. 麻豆精品 S淪he was funny, engaging, knowledgeable and approachable. The students fell in love with her teaching style. 麻豆精品 S
Harris-Jackson also has twice taken UCF students abroad to Amsterdam, where, as part of a comprehensive program she developed, they are exposed to that culture 麻豆精品 S檚 open approach to sexuality. In Amsterdam, Harris-Jackson explained, issues related to sex and sexuality are part of school curriculums from kindergarten on up.
麻豆精品 S淭his trip greatly prepared me for my future in social work, 麻豆精品 S says Felicia Bender. 麻豆精品 S淚 tried to train myself mentally before the trip to understand that I 麻豆精品 S檓 about to be in a different culture entirely. 麻豆精品 S
Harris-Jackson is planning a study-abroad program to Thailand next year. All interested students are invited to find out about the program at .