Hey, I think that is a great idea. You can never be too careful. I may be a little old for you, I just turned 27 on the 10th, but if you don't mind having an older girl for a penpal, I'm up for new friends where ever I can find them. I live in Alabama, so I'm not that far from you.
I love anime, manga, reading, theater, opera, and a little of everything else. Feel free to pm, e-mail, or IM me. You'll find all three on my profile.