As noted in my Writing Section, I was a runner-up in an MTV contest “A Minute” contest to write lyrics emphasizing the importance of getting tested for HIV.  You can read my lyrics here. Although I wrote the lyrics in 2005, the sentiments still remain true in my submission to the contest:

I believe that bringing continuous awareness to HIV testing is an important social action.  It should be seen as a preventative measure as well as part of a fundamental basis in making life decisions that can have crucial consequences.  HIV/AIDS is a disease that not only effects the standard of living of the individual that has contracted it, but also of those people in that person’s life.  I would also hope that with better awareness related to testing for HIV, there could also be greater education – alleviating the myth that might surrounds it, the global consequences related to it, and the ways that people can bring enlightenment, cure, and hope.

I find it important to make note of this today on World AIDS Day, but I hope people are responsible every day and take the time out to be safe and make responsible decisions.

-cct