We need access to reproductive health. It’s a right, not a privilege, and to treat is as such is dangerous to our idea of a civil society. If we can prevent something, if we can help others, why would we as a society wish to withhold care or deny help to others? What does that say about us?

My story is not shocking. I was a sophomore in college and had just had sex for the second time in my life. We liked each other, it was summer and a good time young and alive. After this particular day, the condom we had didn’t work. He left and said everything would be fine. I was nervous, but I believed him. The next morning he said he was scared and wanted me to take Plan B. That terrified me. I was now so incredibly scared. How would I get this? Where would I go? I was scared, and more than anything, I was embarrassed.

I called my friend and told her. She came over and offered to walk with me to the Planned Parenthood around the corner. We walked over, and she waited with me in the waiting room. There was no judgment from the staff; they just provided me with what I needed. There you go. I finished college, grew up, learned more about myself, traveled the world, and—equally as important—I learned not to be embarrassed. I learned to take control over my reproductive health and safety. Thank you, Planned Parenthood.