This week has been so busy for me! Multiple tests, multiple assignments, and cold weather that I can’t stand. I am just about done reading the book for our next assignment. I choose to read “Surviving the Fall” because it was written by a doctor. Although I am not interested in working in family medicine, I thought I could relate to this book the most. The book was not what I thought, because I assumed it would be way too much information about individual patients down to the science of the disease. I enjoyed reading about the doctor’s life and family. Everything tied into the story about how he felt as a doctor during the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. The way he explained his patients was so vivid and I felt like I was there as he was wrote.
I really enjoyed the question of the week because I got to interview people. I asked two people close to me about their feelings on HIV and knowing an HIV positive person. They both said what I would have said if asked the same questions. They wouldn’t let the status of their friends affect their relationship. I can’t see myself letting HIV get in between the friendship I have with any of my loved ones either. Since I figured this would happen, I also interviewed a complete stranger. I asked a man in the library the same questions and he really surprised me with his answer. He thought that visitors to Africa were to blame for the growing problem of HIV in America. I have never heard of anyone saying this before. I think most people know that the disease was first brought to the U.S. from Africa but I personally think that unprotected sex is to blame right now. The fact that young, southern, African American women are among the most infected now explains that. I doubt that all these women are traveling to Africa, or have slept with someone who traveled and got infected there. It might just be me, but I was stunned by his answers, and he was surprisingly calm and confident about his responses.
Either way, I am learning a great deal every day. If it’s not by doing my reading for this class online, it’s by talking to others and sharing my experiences in this class. With all that was going on with me this week, the interview definitely stood out. I am looking forward to the end of this week, as I'm sure most of you are too. I will let you all know how my book ends!
Did You Know?
"At UCF, one in every four students has an STD and not even half the students have been tested for HIV." Now all of you can do that little exercise where you count four of your friends....yes it's that serious! I don't know how you guys feel, but that number is way to high for my liking.
I really enjoyed the question of the week because I got to interview people. I asked two people close to me about their feelings on HIV and knowing an HIV positive person. They both said what I would have said if asked the same questions. They wouldn’t let the status of their friends affect their relationship. I can’t see myself letting HIV get in between the friendship I have with any of my loved ones either. Since I figured this would happen, I also interviewed a complete stranger. I asked a man in the library the same questions and he really surprised me with his answer. He thought that visitors to Africa were to blame for the growing problem of HIV in America. I have never heard of anyone saying this before. I think most people know that the disease was first brought to the U.S. from Africa but I personally think that unprotected sex is to blame right now. The fact that young, southern, African American women are among the most infected now explains that. I doubt that all these women are traveling to Africa, or have slept with someone who traveled and got infected there. It might just be me, but I was stunned by his answers, and he was surprisingly calm and confident about his responses.
Either way, I am learning a great deal every day. If it’s not by doing my reading for this class online, it’s by talking to others and sharing my experiences in this class. With all that was going on with me this week, the interview definitely stood out. I am looking forward to the end of this week, as I'm sure most of you are too. I will let you all know how my book ends!
Did You Know?
"At UCF, one in every four students has an STD and not even half the students have been tested for HIV." Now all of you can do that little exercise where you count four of your friends....yes it's that serious! I don't know how you guys feel, but that number is way to high for my liking.
One in four? I'm staying away from those UCF boys!
ReplyDeleteI'm not too surprised at that gentleman's answer. There are so many misconceptions out there about HIV that nothing really surprises me anymore. But at least you created a dialogue with a stranger and maybe it will make him think about HIV more than he was. Good blog!
I can not believe one in four people at UCF have an STD.. I'm glad all my classes are online! I also had a busy week this week, but next week is going to be even worse. I have a Chemistry II test and Calculus I test on the same day. I am so nervous because I work all weekend. Keep your head up because we are all struggling college students; if college was easy everyone would do it. Have a good weekend!
ReplyDelete-Courtney D
Wow! One in four, that is such a high number. That is so scary! Mix that with the nonchalant attitude college students display towards protection and sexual partners - you have a dangerous combination!
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed the Question of the Week. It was interesting to hear what my friends and family thought about HIV. A lot of the questions they got wrong were questions I also would have gotten wrong before taking this class. It is nice to know that I have learned enough to correct misguided information.
Actually, the disease may have come via Haiti or directly from Europe. Why do people assume it had to come from Africa? We don't know where the first case originated from, so to blame Africa isn't fair.
ReplyDeleteI would love to do a double blind study using the campus health center to see just how many students are infected with HIV on this campus. The article you cited is a little old. The number might be higher or lower for that matter.