Soap operas. They've been a part of the American television landscape since the 1950s. The loss of Guiding Light last week, on the air for 57 years (not counting its 15 years on the radio), clearly demonstrates the obsession and passion Americans feel for the characters of their favorite "made for TV" fantasies.

Not surprisingly, Latinos love their soap operas too. Unlike their American counterparts, telenovelas (soap operas from Spanish-speaking countries) are aired in the evening. They are often a nightly ritual, watched by the entire family, and are a popular form of entertainment for people of all age groups.

As I sat and listened to several Central Valley, CA, Latino teens tell me about their future ambitions and life dreams, I was struck by how determined to succeed these kids were. Despite living in communities threatened by drug and gang activity, low income and high unemployment levels, each was looking forward to graduating from high school, attending college and having a promising career. It was also clear that each teen was well aware of the fact that becoming a parent at an early age would make achieving their aspirations much more difficult. This anecdotal information precisely mirrors findings published in the National Campaign's recently released report Toward a Common Future.

Yet, according to what these teens shared with me, school year after school year they witness many of their friends and classmates giving up or postponing their efforts to reach their goals as a result of an unintended pregnancy. Given the unique challenges Latino teens face, many of which contribute to the high rates of teen pregnancy in their communities, Latino teens in particular can use adult guidance in order to identify and navigate past the numerous issues they'll more than likely have to address as they grow older.