Meet Kevin
Kevin grew up in what would be considered by most, the perfect all-American family with the average-sized house, a little brother and two loving parents who wanted their son to succeed. What appeared to be perfect on the outside was not perfect on the inside. Growing up Kevin struggled with depression and the desperation led him to suicide attempts and isolation in and out of school. During this difficult time Kevin involved himself with school activities in hopes that his busy schedule would keep his mind off of the troubles inside. Kevin graduated from high school and attended Seattle Central 3 College where he gradated with an Associate of Arts and Science degree in Deaf Interpreting. Kevin decided to move to Washington, DC to continue his education and work on his bachelor's degree which meant leaving his home and family. His new-found freedom and overwhelming feelings of depression mixed to cause a disastrous outcome. Kevin began to drink heavily to escape his reality. The nights of partying took Kevin down a dangerous path that included blackouts and casual encounters. Kevin's wake up call came when one of the casual encounters tested HIV positive. Kevin responded to the news by taking an HIV test that came back negative . . . this time. A few weeks later, during a visit with his family, Kevin chose to take one final HIV test. During the trip he received a heartfelt letter from his father. In the letter he acknowledged Kevin's sexual orientation and asked him to be cautious with his encounters. The next day the call came from the clinic that his test results were back. That afternoon Kevin found out he was HIV positive. Kevin's world came crashing down around him. Thoughts of his family, friends and future ran through his head. His first disclosure was in the parking lot while on the phone, shortly after finding out the news. Kevin broke down when speaking the words "I am HIV positive." At the clinic Kevin spoke with the clinician who calmly explained the disease that he now lived with and Kevin looked up and asked, "When will I die?" Later that evening, with heartfelt emotion he disclosed his status and sexual orientation to his mother. Kevin asked his mother to speak to his father about his status. The experience, though heartbreaking, was liberating for Kevin. It was an opportunity for his parents to see him for who he really was. After finding out his HIV positive test result, Kevin hit the ground running by doing research in hopes that he could find a way to beat it. He researched for hours even believing that he found "cures" in the Bahamas, India and U.K. Kevin quickly found himself lost and isolated. He returned to his life and to old patterns. Ignoring his problems, burying himself in schoolwork he kept his mind from wondering. His life changed when he met another HIV positive individual. Kevin didn't feel alone and his new friend's knowledge helped him accept his own diagnosis. To Kevin, knowing that he wasn't alone was his motivation and passion for HIV and AIDS education. As his passion grew so did his awareness of his depression. It was not from the pressures of being gay or his family, but his lack of purpose in life. Kevin, with the support of his family, has found a purpose in life--and with this new beginning has come his passion to change lives.
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