Johnny, 27
When I Found Out:
I found out my status in 1998. I was having sex with an older guy who was positive. I actually didn't know anything about how you could contract HIV.
The biggest challenge I deal with living with HIV:
The biggest challenge for me would be staying on top of my health. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to come to the clinic every month and I hate needles, but I know that HIV/AIDS is treatable and if I want to live long I must take care of my health.
What I've learned from living with HIV:
I've learned a lot about myself and most definitely how to be responsible.
What I think is the biggest difference between people's perceptions and the reality of living with HIV:
It's not the end of the world, unless you let HIV take over your life!
Who I thought HIV affected before I learned I was positive:
I thought drug users were most commonly infected because my uncle died of complications due to AIDS and he was an IV drug user. After finding out my status, I became educated and learned so much about HIV/AIDS.
