|
WOW! What
a powerful, straightforward and informative presentation on the topic
of AIDS/HIV by Kathy and Rick. They were by far, the
two best panelists we had in class this summer. I believe the information
that Kathy and Rick talked about really hit home for the students
in the class. Because of the presentation, I now view sexual activity
a lot differently. I may go down to the university health center and
get tested! Continue>>
This panel
was amazing. I've never met anyone who's had AIDS or tested positive
for HIV so I was VERY intrigued. Kathy is a very beautiful lady.
Her story and the way she got passed on the HIV virus was very heartbreaking.
Being young, in love and trusting someone you've shared years with,
having to face the decision of keeping or aborting her child must have
been tough. Many people I could imagine probably would have given up
and let the disease take over their life, but it's great that she was
able to see how young she is and know that she's got potential in this
world to overcome all the difficulties she's gone through and fight
back. Continue>>
On Tuesday,
Kathy, and Rick visited our class and shared their very sad, emotional
and scary stories. Having them come to class really brought a down to
earth and two very real stories on how easily AIDS can be contracted.
I am still in awe that Kathleen contracted AIDS and only had sex with
her long time boyfriend whom she loved very much, to me it is just disturbing.
I think that it is even more disturbing that Rick set out to kill himself
by purposely contracting the virus. Continue>>
This was
a reality check for all the students who decided to come to class that
day. Lecturing aside, when it comes to AIDS and HIV, this was the best
way to teach us. Rick and Kathy provided a prospective on something
that I myself, have never seen nor experienced. You can read about people
like them in books all day, but it doesn't even come close in comparison
to meeting them in person. In this paper, I am going to reflect and
comment on their discussion which they had with the class. Continue>>
Dear Laura and Kathy,
Laura, Kathy, and Rick's panel on AIDS really changed the way I see people with AIDS. I never really thought people who had AIDS were monsters, promiscuous, or dirty, yet the way AIDS victims are portrayed and spoken about through the media and the people I grew up with, and how it is such a taboo subject, caused me to have some of those misconceptions, even though I had been taught differently. Laura, Kathy, and even Rick in his last stretch of the battle with the disease, would never come across as being AIDS victims if I had just met them on the street. Continue>> Dear Laura and Kathy,
As
I sat in that room listening to Laura, Kathy, and Rick’s story,
all I could think about were the times I had unprotected sex. It never
occurred to me that I could possibly be infected with HIV. It made me
even more think when Laura said that 50% of the people infected with
HIV know that they are infected and the other 50% don’t. I have
never known anybody who is HIV positive, so I guess I’ve always
thought that as long as nobody around me is infected then there is no
way I can ever be infected. Kathleen made an interesting point that
if you love yourself, then you will know to put on a condom before having
sex. Continue>>
Dear Laura and Kathy,
Today was a special day; our Human Sexuality class had the benefit of having three brilliant individuals enter our classroom to discuss the tragedy with being infected with the AIDS virus. At first, I did not know what to think about Laura, Kathy, and Rick. I thought they were just going to inform us about AIDS and tell us ways to prevent becoming infected. Little did I know, all three of them were HIV positive, and it was so hard to understand because they looked so healthy. Of these three brave individuals, Laura and Kathleen both contracted the disease from their boyfriends who they loved very much. Continue>>
Dear Molly and Laura,
I really
appreciate you guys coming in to talk to us. It really meant a lot.
You two were unlike any other speaker I've ever heard. As you told
your stories, I felt as though I had known you for years because the
stories were very emotional. I really admire the two of you for having
enough strength to make it through such hard times.
I have been truly touched by your speech from yesterday. There is
no other word that can show my feelings except for Admiration. I admire
your strength and perseverance to urge people to protect themselves.
I see AIDS in a new perspective. You shouldn't grieve upon your life
forever because you contracted AIDS. You've reached out to people
and took action to tell others about the consequences. As we all know,
everybody dies, but not everyone really lives. You have lived to help
others. That is truly a blessing that I see in you. Take care of yourself
and remember that someone has been touched through your experiences.
Dear Laura,
Today I listened to your speech about your life and HIV. It truly did touch me and I just wanted to say that you are such a wonderful and strong person. I have no idea how hard it must be for you to have to live your life with AIDS, but I have just wanted to say that you have made me very proud and now I consider you one of my role models. I am sure if you do decide to have children, you will make an excellent mom. Thanks again.
Dear
Laura,
Dear Laura,
Thank
you for coming to our class and speaking about your experiences with
AIDS and HIV. Even though we read the book At Risk, I did worksheets,
and shared our feelings about HIV; I feel that you taught us more.
I guess you gave it the human touch. You made me realize the importance
of protecting ourselves and being careful of our actions. And for
this I thank you. I think you are doing a wonderful job in speaking
to youngsters. If more people like you came to speak, maybe the level
of teenagers infected would go down.
My experience with you wasn't on a one on one bases, but everything
you were talking about touched me in many ways. I can barely describe
the feelings you brought to me. I've never met anyone with AIDS or
HIV before you, and I never pictured anyone having AIDS who looks
as healthy as you.
The experiences you had described to our class were heart wrenching. You, Laura are a very strong person. Maybe the strongest person I ever met. And I really thank you for giving me the pleasure of meeting such a strong independent person like you. You made me open my eyes and made me realize that I shouldn't take my life for granted. Thank you so much.
Dear Laura,
Wow,
I just want to thank you so much for such a wonderful presentation.
It really moved me, when you shared your personal experiences. It
really sank in, I mean, I have a normal life and I do volleyball,
just like you. I have a close relationship with my dad, like you do.
To think that this could happen to me would scare me. But now, after
hearing from you, and learning about how this disease is livable,
makes me not as frightened. Yes, this disease is horrible to experience,
or having someone you know, go through life with it. But as you said,
"I am living proof, that you can live with this disease".
You inspire me and are one of my role models. I just don't know why
God would choose someone like you, so beautiful, sweet, loving, and
kind?? I just want to thank you again for opening my eyes and changing
my world.
Dear Sherri,
I
want to sincerely thank you, Miss Sherri, for caring enough for me,
to prepare me to see the reality of safe sex and HIV. Before, you started
to say a thing, I made up my mind that you were so phony, but then that
changed right away after you began your honest, heartfelt testimony.
My soul's aching for a spiritual education. Ever since you told me that
God was your foundation, I'm looking forward to enjoying life to it's
fullest capacity, because now I know that the secret to living all starts
by sobriety. My negativity I can bury, and my future doesn't look so
ominous and black anymore, but it's hopeful.
Thank you again sweet, lovely Miss Sherri, and I think I speak for all of us here when I say, please come back to Aliso.
Dear Sherri,
I wish I was talented enough to express my appreciation accurately.
I'll try my best by saying that I am truly grateful for the time you
shared with me and my class. Your discussion was an eye-opener. Many
teenagers think that HIV is a disease that can't infect them. In reality,
it is an epidemic that infects people regardless of their age, race,
or gender. I hope that people realize this and avoid behavior that
can expose them to this epidemic.
Your appearance affected me deeply. My childhood friend is infected with HIV and I see what he goes through. HIV not only affects him physically, but mentally as well. Most of our friends didn't want to have anything to do with him when they found out. They didn't know about AIDS and were afraid. Listening to you talk about HIV helped a lot of students understand that HIV is not something to be scared of but something to be aware of. Once again, thank you for coming to our school to talk to us. We all were touched by the things you had to say. I look up to you for your strength and determination.
Dear Sherri,
I wanted
to thank you for the time you spent talking to us at school. I thought
it was really cool. I liked the fact that you are a singer. I play
guitar, piano, and drums. I am also a part of a theater company that
works out of Valley College and work around a lot of creative people.
I though it took a lot of courage and compassion for others to get
up like you do and tell people about this disease and how it could
affect their lives. I really found what you had to say interesting
and it seemed to be a very honest point to view. I was very grateful
for the knowledge you shared.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
           
|
