February,1995
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With Quilt as Backdrop, 
Speakers with HIV
Unfold Their Tales
By Crystal Morris
Calling for abstinence, the use of latex condoms, and the avoidance of drugs, health officials and speakers battling the AIDS virus implored Central students to make smart decisions about the way they lead their lives.
"Abstinence is a realistic choice for high school students. Abstaining from sex and drug use are the best ways to avoid contracting HIV. Anyone who chooses to be sexually active should protect themselves with the proper use of a latex condom. Used incorrectly, condoms have a tendency to break, leaving both partners at risk for infection," said a health official from New Haven.
Aiming toward awareness and education, the speakers provided basic facts about AIDS and described the paths they chose which led to HIV infection.
AIDS is caused by a virus which attacks the immune system. The virus is called HIV. This virus is passed through blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. You can't catch the virus by touching, holding hands, or hugging. In order to catch AIDS there has to be an exchange of bodily fluids which usually occurs through unprotected sex or sharing needles.
Kelly, Walt, and Wes are HIV positive . All explained they really don't know how they caught the virus, but they all had unprotected sex and used drugs intravenously .
Kelly is now thirty years old. "I found out I was HIV positive at the age of 19," she said. She had gone to the doctor for other complications. The doctor gave her a test for HIV which turned out positive. She had used drugs such as heroin and had unprotected sex. She doesn't know how she caught it or from whom.
Walt explained he has AIDS rather than HIV infection because his T cells (infection fighting white blood cells) have fallen below 100. He shared needles and had unprotected sex. "I believed I caught it by sharing needles in the year 1975." Walt implored all sexually active people to use latex condoms. "Now we even have a female condom called Reality so women can choose to take responsibility for protecting themselves," said Walt.
Like all the speakers Walt refuses to let the disease break his spirit. I have a lot to live for" he said. He plans to marry Kelly in the near future.
Wes was a student at Central . He emphasized avoiding the AIDS virus by staying away from drugs. "I got kicked out of here and went to Harding. I got kicked out of Harding and went to Bassick. At Bassick I played football. I was a good football player until I started messing with drugs. I walked around the halls like I owned the school. I started to get in a lot of trouble." He got arrested so he got his GED in prison.
When he got out of prison he was a drug addict and an alcoholic. Wes believes he caught the virus by sharing needles. "I got high because I had no self control." When he found out he was HIV positive he felt he was going to die anyway so he started to use drugs heavily. Wes spent most of his life on the streets or in jail. Wes has turned his life around. He is now in the church, trying to stay healthy, and talking to students about how to avoid getting the virus.
Wes has come to realize there is nothing out on the streets but death and drugs. "I'm here to tell you, you don't have to make the same mistakes I did. You can choose to stay away from drugs. You have your whole life to live."
