Not quitting yet
So this summer I have really been toying with the idea of leaving HIV/AIDS work for good. In some ways (though not nearly as horrible as their experiences, imo) the experience of disillusionment and disappointment I've felt is similar to friends of mine who have gone to work as public school teachers. The levels of bureaucracy and having to bow down to "experts" who decide what you can and can't do for your community--particularly when they don't know shit about your community or bother to visit your community, even to do site visits to hold you accountable (ahem ahem), just really sucks. Like, mach 1 level of suckage. In all ugly honesty I'm irritated and disgusted by the flippant attitudes and completely unfocused approach of so called "leaders" in MSM prevention--in Boston, in New England, throughout the nation. I respect those who are behind the scenes doing the actual work and sweating blood trying to get funding and resources where they should go, rather than pissed away.
But now that I've got like 5 years under my belt I can actually see the differences that have been made. Like, big time changes that me and my colleagues have accomplished here. And I'm proud of that. I'm also proud to see youth in my community stepping up to take on this fight as well. It gives me a good deal of hope.
I still want to go back to school. One of my dreams is to get a doctorate. But now I don't think I want to run away screaming from this career in order to do that.
But now that I've got like 5 years under my belt I can actually see the differences that have been made. Like, big time changes that me and my colleagues have accomplished here. And I'm proud of that. I'm also proud to see youth in my community stepping up to take on this fight as well. It gives me a good deal of hope.
I still want to go back to school. One of my dreams is to get a doctorate. But now I don't think I want to run away screaming from this career in order to do that.