My Essay: Unique

In my community, Washington, D.C., 1 in 20 people have HIV/AIDS. Around the world more than 2 million people die of AIDS and many people are infected. HIV and AIDS are spreading each day. It’s important in our community because it effects too many people. Everyone should be aware of what HIV and AIDS can do to you and how dangerous it is. People should have role models to teach them what to and how to protect themselves from these infections. People with HIV and AIDS are stigmatized when other people think of them differently or act towards them in a different way. Stigma doesn’t help them because they have HIV or AIDS it only makes them feel worse about themselves. Families also get broken apart because family members die from AIDS. 

People should empower others to help their communities and do good. That’s where Grassroot Hoyas comes in. They teach me way’s to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. The spread is caused by breast milk, semen, blood, vaginal fluids, and sharing needles. Although there is no cure there is a treatment called ARV, Anti Retro Virals. Grassroots uses games and activities to teach us about HIV and AIDS, like Find the Ball. The point of the game is that you can’t tell if somebody has HIV/AIDS or not just by looking at them. Team Handball is another game. The point of that game is you have to have people to support and help you if you have HIV/AIDS or not. 

They also taught me ways to stay strong. Use your strength to avoid getting infected by HIV/AIDS or an STD. Plan my next move by setting goals for my self to follow. Build my support team to help me, like my family friends and community. Take action in my community by helping people learn more about HIV and AIDS, how to get tested and where to get tested to know your status. 

So everybody can learn that HIV and AIDS affect you and people you know. AIDS can kill you if you don’t know you status or get the ARV treatment. People need to take this disease seriously and take action in the community to stay well rounded and healthy and to protect ourselves form HIV/AIDS. All this I learned from the Grassroot Project so that I can protect myself, my family and also to educate my community.

Unique "Nique Nique" Greenwood