So What Happens Now?..

Love Yourself First General Assembly from jedd rommel on Vimeo.

OK! I just graduated as a bona fide HIV/AIDS counselor courtesy of The Love Yourself Organization in cooperation with the Department of Health. Initially I only intended to be a Peer educator but of course I in my usual stubborn self-had to go deeper and be a counselor at that.

While driving home last night I get to thinking of the responsibility that had been anchored in my shoulders and I kinda felt anxious at the same time fearful of what lies ahead in the new role I am assuming , that of an HIV/AIDS counselor.

In training one is given scenarios and situations to role play when faced with individuals that will undergo HIV/AIDS Testing, Hard really at the same time very emotionally draining but still at the back of my head I'm still thinking that it’s just role play and that the person I'm talking to are my classmates in training, not actual people living with HIV so generally in hindsight was kinda easy as I am a Drama Queen personified.

But now it’s actually sinking in my psyche the probable scenarios that will happen in real life when I assume the hat of a full pledge counselor.
December 11, 2011 is a day I dread at the same time really excited about. This will put me to the test, and will put to good use the training I got as an HIV/AIDS counselor. I will be one of the counselors in an HIV Testing center/Social Hygiene Clinic in Quezon City.

Afraid because I am praying that the training I had would suffice for me to do the work without mistakes and help the individuals to cope with the situation they are in. I don't really have a clue what is going to happen but I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I would have the strength and the will to tide this over and see it through without me making an ass of myself.

I know sometimes I could be really condescending and judgmental, but as I learned from our training that one just have to let go of one's biases and embrace ones humanity to feel and be able to empathize. One also has to leave all the excess baggage’s and face the work head on armed with compassion and determination to do it right.


This is so new to me but I am very happy to say that the people I met and forged friendships along the way during my peer Ed. training up to the Counselors training would be there with me to face this. I also know that what I am doing is for the greater good and hope that someone up there would be on my side hopefully when I finally embark on this journey.

So what happens now? I really don’t know but with you know who's help and with my new friends in tow this is going to be good.