Tampon Disaster

My first time using a tampon I had to go to the emergency room to get it out. Needless to say that was the last time I used them. Although it was a terrible situation I still would like to use them in the future. My mom never showed me how to properly use them. She always told me I had to wait until I had sex. I am a virgin so I assumed that's why it got it got stuck the first time. But I have plenty of friends who wear them and they too are virgins. Any tips that can help me open back up to tampons?