My name is Addison Hieronymus, a senior at Hamilton Southeastern High School. Currently 30/50 US States have the age of consent set at 16 years old. This causes an increase of teen pregnancy, underlying health issues, and exploitation of these young individuals. Together we can spark change within Indiana, which can spread into a nationwide change for the better. Raising the age of consent to 18 would allow for more sexual education to be conducted before adolescences jump into a serious relationship. This protects our youth from older individuals from exploiting their innocence. Don’t you want yourself, younger siblings, and any young people in your life to be safe? Together we can make that happen!