no LOL in HIV » By Teens 4 Teens

How have you or someone you know been affected by HIV?

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:10:27 +0000

The HIV virus has affected my life in a number of ways. Doing peer education work, I have been fortunate enough to meet all kinds of people, some of whom are living infected by HIV. Last year, I met a young man who was born with HIV and is motivated and determined to share his story and message that “giving up is never an option”. When my friend turned 13, his mom decided it was time to tell him that they both were HIV+. After complications from her own HIV infection, she passed leaving behind Sean and his older sister.

Since, Sean has dedicated his life to educating his friends and peers about HIV. Though this fight against HIV/AIDS is not easy, it is harder for him to give up because so many people support him. Though Sean knows that his life can end at any time, he doesn’t let time fly. He continues to stay active in his church and a friend to those that know and love him. His only two wishes are to see the day when there is a cure for HIV/AIDS and to attend his nephews’ wedding.

Why do you feel most comfortable talking to your peers about sex?

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:08:47 +0000

Personally, I feel most comfortable talking about sex with my friends. They understand me and aren’t judgmental. My friends are also the ones who know me best, so they are the ones who can give me the best advice. They are like my personal psychiatrists. They are also extremely reliable and trustworthy, so I know what ever I say to them is completely confidential.

This goes both ways too. My friends come to me with their sex stories and concerns too. We are all just so comfortable with each other. We have also known each other for years, so we know how to get each other to open up; we know how to sooth each other if we are really freaking out and we know how to be the friend the other person needs. What’s best is that during and after the conversation we make small jokes about everything-nothing hurtful, just small remarks to lighten the mood, to make us laugh. The most important thing is that the day after, we’ll all just be hanging out and completely forget about it. Nothing will have ever changed.

Why do you think media is such a good tool for reaching teens and young people with messages about HIV and AIDS?

Deonne — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:48:57 +0000

Media is a great tool for reaching teens and young people with messages about HIV and AIDS because it is prevalent in their everyday lives. How else would you go about getting a message across to youth, especially a wide range of youths from all different walks of life?

Would you use the web? Telephones? Billboards? Text messaging? All these are different forms of media that young people use or see multiple times every day. That is why media is so crucial when it comes to spreading messages about HIV and AIDS.