I was 18 when I lost my virginity and in college at the time. I don't feel I rushed into it. I had known him (my first husband) for several months before we slept together and had not rushed into it.

i was raped so it was rushed ..

I had penetrative sex for the first time when I was 21 (although I'd had other, mild sexual experiences before that). I had always worried that I'd waited too long and that I was somehow freakish, but when I did have sex, it was really great, and I felt like I had waited until just the right time. Everyone is different, though.

Did I "rush it"? Well, it was too soon, I was too young and in retrospect it could be called a mistake, but I cannot really say that. I was the young "beauty queen", he was the older, hunky, "every girl wants him" sport team Captain with a "crush" on ME, and after two "dates out" (movie and a burger...riding bikes), there we were, in his parents basement, them out for the weekend and him whispering all the right stuff in my ears to make it happen. Was it my "ideal" romantic event? Hell no. Would I do it like that again, if I knew in advance, the overall life situations? Of course not. However, he was, at least, a gentle lover (he was experienced and, of course, only wanted into my pants. Once he got there, he moved on to other girls pretty quick). However, we cannot change what was, and ALL my life experiences have made me what I am today, so how, if I am happy with my life now (I am) can I think that some event like that was a "mistake"???

That actually sounds sort of sweet. At least you BOTH wanted it at the same time.

I really have heard some of my girl friends speak about a very pleasant "first time", so it CAN happen. Mine was less then a big turn on. HE wanted it and kind of coerced me into it, when just hanging out. However he was a gentle and experienced lover,so for a first time, it was not bad. We probably "did it" another three times before he went on to other "virgin" territory (I was just another conquest in his game of "nail the virgin") but it gave me a certain personal strength to know that even though I was SHY (even as a Little Miss this and that, I really WAS a shy girl), I could take him leaving me, without shedding a tear or even feeling really upset about it. I quickly moved on to a few other REAL "boyfriends" and that was that.