Maybe your first time having sex was unexpectedly at a party, with a person you hardly even knew. Maybe you lost your virginity a few months into your typical high school relationship, just as planned. Maybe your first time was absolutely perfect, terrible, or just weird. Maybe your first time having sex happened a long time ago, or maybe it was just this past break.

Maybe your first time having sex just hasn’t happened yet.

There’s nothing like the first time, even if it didn’t or doesn’t turn out that great. One’s first kiss. One’s first crush. One’s first heart-break. We have always celebrated the idea of “firsts”, as many memories are usually based on first time experiences.

However, it seems that our generation’s perspective on the first time having sex is that it’s not a big deal, that it doesn’t matter who, or where, or how, just as long as it happened. This is where I disagree. What ever happened to putting value on your virginity?

For the many of us, high school is the time for relationships, or perhaps, the occasional one-night stand. According to a study published by the Kinsey Institute in 2013, guys lose their virginity at the average age of 16, whereas girls lose theirs at the average age of 17. Both of which are average high school ages. And in high school, we all know that sex is constantly on our minds, especially sex for the first time.

For those of you who gave your virginity to someone you hardly knew, or are waiting until marriage to have sex, I would never try to argue against your personal values.

Yet, for those of you who’s first time was a memorable experience with someone special, I salute you.

It seems to me that the peer pressure from already sexually active teens makes the value of virginity decline each generation. The idea of losing one’s virginity has become so hyped up that teens seem to feel the pressure to lose it as soon as they get the chance, just to get it out of the way.

However, in 30 years, I’m sure that losing your virginity will be one of your most prominent memories. So, why not save the one night stands for after the first time? Instead, make your first time having sex just as meaningful as any other first time.