By Celina Wu
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The summer before her sophomore year, junior Kimberly Collins visited Nairobi and Nakuru in Kenya for a mission trip. There, she said she helped spread the gospel and dealt with those who were HIV positive.

Collins said, “I went to a few orphanages where there were kids who were orphaned by parents who died from AIDS. It was hard to see these kids because since their parents had AIDS, then they are destined to die of AIDS. It was heartbreaking to interact with the kids when you knew that they were going to die.

December is dedicated to AIDS awareness. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, although deaths due to AIDS are decreasing, there are approximately 40 million people worldwide who are afflicted with HIV or AIDS. But unlike Collins, who has a high level of AIDS awareness because of her experience in Africa, the spread of this disease still persists because of the lack of public attention and education. This lack of attention, also according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has led to a decrease in public awareness for AIDS. On the positive side, one of the most important factors for raising AIDS awareness is education, which this school continually provides for its students.

One of the ways that this school educates students about the disease is through the convocation dedicated to the subject that is presented each year to the Freshman Class.

Assistant Principal Kevin Gallman said, “The AIDS convocation is a very informational time for students about how they can protect themselves against AIDS. It gives them a wealth of information that they many not have already received early in their high school career.”

Freshman Renee La Schiazza was among the students in attendance at this year’s AIDS convocation. She said that the speaker was informative and helpful. “I remember that the speaker really went over things multiple times, which helped get into our heads that AIDS is a really important issue,” she said. “He also explained different medical terms associated with AIDS that I didn’t know before in more detail.”

Besides this convocation, this school also does more to provide awareness and education about AIDS. Nurse Carol Gelatt said, “It is part of our state’s requirements to discuss AIDS in the classroom. I know health classes and interpersonal relations classes teach a unit on AIDS.”

According to health teacher Emily Good, the Indiana Dept. of Education states that each school needs to include in the school corporation’s curriculum instruction regarding AIDS and other dangerous diseases.

Regarding the AIDS unit she teaches in health classes, Good said, “Students are provided with opportunities to explore the effect of health behaviors on an individual’s quality of life. This course assists students in understanding that health is a lifetime commitment by analyzing individual risk factors and health decisions that promote health and prevent disease, including HIV/AIDS education. Students are also encouraged to assume individual responsibility for becoming competent health consumers.”

Gelatt also said education about AIDS is important everywhere. She said, “Any disease that may be prevented through choices that we make is always worthwhile to be educated about.”

Reflecting on her mission trip to Africa, Collins said, “I will always remember my experience in Kenya. It opened my eyes to the desperate need for more AIDS education and awareness in Africa and everywhere else as well.