I wanted to be an electrical engineer. Then, at 14 years old, I was told I am HIV positive. Many young girls and women do vividly remember how they were told about their HIV diagnosis. Perhaps this news changed them for the better or worse. I remember contemplating about not wanting to live anymore as I couldn't see myself taking ARVs for the rest of my life. I withdrew from everyone and everything, and always thought I was not good enough.
After seven years of living in denial and continuously postponing all opportunities I had in life, academically and socially, I reasoned that I would try to be soft on myself to understand myself better and mostly to love myself. All that required self-effort to accept my HIV diagnosis, despite having my family, friends, and a support group.
To read Precious' introduction in its entirety, click here.
