I was an 18-year-old, out-of-state college student when I decided to have sex for the first time. My mother had passed away the year before, when I was 17 years old. My father was 50 years old when he had me, and we certainly did not have the kind of relationship where I could talk openly with him about sex.

My college boyfriend and I were having intercourse on a pretty regular basis. We were using condoms, but the fear of pregnancy was huge for me. I didn’t want to be a parent, nor was I ready. I knew that.

So I walked myself down to the local Planned Parenthood and got myself on birth control. I remember I was harassed by protesters who thought I was there for an abortion. I thought, “Wow, they don’t even know me! Why are they shouting at me?” Well, thank God I got on the pill because I was able to finish my education and get a job, marry that college boyfriend of mine seven years later, have two wonderful kids, and live happily ever after.

I can’t imagine what my life would have been like if at 18 I didn’t have access to affordable birth control. Please do not defund Planned Parenthood.