Meeting someone
How to read the stories

Meeting someone

Approaching adulthood is a time of exploring new experiences. One of the most important things is meeting new people and developing new friendships. Sometimes, you may already have a good friend that you are close to. The two of you may do lots of things together and get along really well. As time passes you may discover that you are attracted to each other and have loving and sexual feelings for each other. Many young people have friends that they do not have sexual feelings for and they wonder how they will find a sexual partner. If you are like this, it can be helpful to think of activities that you are interested in so that you can do things where you may meet someone new who shares your interests.

Because someone likes the same things as you do, it does not mean they will have sexual feelings for you, but having things in common is often a good place to start.

You might like sports, maybe football or swimming, and it is fun to meet other people who like those things too. Some people might like the same music and enjoy going out dancing together. Others might share the same values or ideas about life. They might belong to the same religion and care about the same things.

How to read the stories

There is no right or wrong way to read the stories.

Some people are not used to reading stories. Start at the beginning and read the story in each picture. Encourage the reader to move through the pages at their own pace.
Encourage the person to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what they think is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. If you are using the pictures to help explain a procedure to someone, you may need to describe or clarify the actions being shown in each picture to help them understand. Try not to challenge the reader(s) or suggest their ideas are wrong.
Some pictures may be more difficult to understand. It can help to prompt the people you are supporting, for example:
• Who do you think that is?
• What is happening?
• How is he or she feeling?
• Do you feel like that? Has it happened to you/ your friend/ your family?
Allow people enough time to follow the pictures at their own pace. Allow time for discussion of each picture.
Some people may benefit from reading the larger story from which the extract has been taken. This will allow them to explore their feelings and experiences in more depth. To buy the complete book, follow the link to the bookshop that appears at the end of the story.