Culture, religion, society, and peers have all influenced the author's sexuality in various ways. American society's accessible sex education and family planning clinics made the author more comfortable seeking help and information about sexuality. Her parents discouraged early childbearing and unsupervised relationships, shaping her views. Friends modeling early sexual experimentation impacted her own experiences. Exposure to sexualized media and pornography formed beliefs about gender roles and sexual norms. The author found examining these influences through this assignment revealed how much her environment and relationships have shaped her sexuality.