If i choose to be sexually active is contracting herpes almost guaranteed since a big majority of people have it and condoms do not fully protect?

Depends: The more partners you have the greater that risk is. It is certainly possible since about 1 in 4 people in America have herpes, 90% of them do not know they have it, and 3% of them are contagious at any one time - if you get exposed it is very easy to contract. If you do contract herpes, like everyone else there is a 90% chance you will not know it.