Wow. I have had quite a few weeks. I actually had to quit my job in order to deal with my 19 credit hours and graduation. I'm trying to get my resume together to send out to hospitals and offices to hopefully get a job after graduation in December. After doing the simulation and after thinking about how much I have on my plate right now that I had to quit my job, I could not IMAGINE really throwing HIV into the mix of my crazy life. This week I have learned that "Knowledge is Power" is not acceptable phrase anymore. Especially when it is not working. Many thought that if people were knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS the transmission would decrease. This has not happened yet. A reason I believe that Americans are so naive to HIV is because they were never educated about it at an early age. Our mines our sculpted at a very young age, and the things that we still value and think are important are the things we were required to take. If HIV/AIDS awareness was required to learn in middle school or high school, I think that more people would be interested and willing to have a opinion on the topic. When American's believe in something they are willing to voice their opinion. We need this to happen in order to slow the transmission rate.
I also believe in organization trying to promote awareness in HIV. I am excited to say that I am currently trying to pursue a job with the MAC AIDS organization. I have always admired non-profit organizations and now that I have become so passionate about finding a cure for HIV I don't attend to sit around and wait for someone else to do it.
DID YOU KNOW:
According to Avert.org, "It is widely accepted that young people have a right to sex education. This is because it is a means by which they are helped to protect themselves against abuse, exploitation, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV and AIDS" (Avert.org, 2009). If this is the truth then WHY AREN'T WE TEACHING?? This day in age is unlike the past. Our young adults know more than most generations ever had. Yes, they are fragile minds, but they deserve to know the truth and what can happen. HIV/AIDS is a very serious issue that need to me addressed at a young age. That is why I believe it is important for young people to be required to learn about it. Also Avert.org says, "Young people get information about sex and sexuality from a wide range of sources including each other, through the media including advertising, television and magazines, as well as leaflets, books and websites (such as www.avert.org) which are intended to be sources of information about sex and sexuality. Some of this will be accurate and some inaccurate" (Avert.org, 2009). With saying this, why should we not educate the TRUTH about HIV/AIDS at a young age before they can hear any myths or discriminatory information.
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Let me start of by saying CONGRATS on your graduation! I think that its a good thing that all of us have become inspired towards the subject of HIV/AIDS. I hope you will be able to get a job in your new passion. I also think this class should be mandatory! It is a big eye opener. I am glad that the professors for this course have made it interesting and challenging.
ReplyDeleteWOW 19 credit hours! You Go GIRL! You can do it I wish you all the best.
ReplyDeleteYou were right in your blog times have changed and we need to figure out a way to educate our young people earlier and better. It is so much more out there from when we were younger. I think we just have to start being raw with information. We can't sugar coat it even if it scares them.
Learning about HIV/AIDS at an younger age is a wonderful idea. I just wish it was possible, with so many rules in the school systems about how far you can go about the topic of sex, it is just impossible. Linda was telling me, in I believe Seminole county the schools are not even aloud to mention condoms, so to get them to talk about HIV forget it. With everything that I have learned from this class, I know I am pretty much scared sh*tless and stupid to not have my partner tested and to not use condoms. I just hope in the future kids in the middle and high schools can learn what I have learned, I REALLY do believe it will make a difference.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the job!
I like your way of thinking. You'll go a long way in your career, congratulations on graduation! You are so right about giving kids a passion. You're not only creating a generation that will think twice about disease but also one that will be more empathic and compassionate to others with the disease and other incurable ones as well. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI have the same kind of views that you do, if we don't know about it, we can't care about it. Teaching people at a younger age, as maybe a required course for graduation is solid strategy. The only side effect that I for see, is people gaining a negative view on the subject due to their dislike for having to taking the class.
ReplyDeleteI agree if we knew about it we would know how to deal with it. I never had sex education everything I learned was from movies, tv, and friends. That isn't an education and if schools would realize if they taught us at a young age then that would prevent a lot of teen pregnancies, spread of diseases and other things.
ReplyDeleteI hope your interview is successful. Perhaps that fact that you are taking this course will be a plus for you. Let me know how you fare in with the interview.
ReplyDeleteWe are not teaching about HIV because the religious right doesn't want us to talk about sex in a truthful manner. If we keep kids thinking abstinence is the key, they won't have sex. Right, and I'll grow to up to be president of the US at age 70.
I like that you pointed out, "Yes, they are fragile minds, but they deserve to know the truth and what can happen" and I could not agree more. I think that although so many of us do not believe that "knowledge is power" - couldn't we all agree that the knowledge we have obtained in this class has made us powerful people that can now go on with our lives sharing knowledge with our friends and family? I think that education can equal power IF it is given properly!!!
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