Posted on February 03, 2015
Source: Himaja Gaddipati
Hi! My name is Hima, and I’m a graduate student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. I became interested in HIV testing and counseling when I volunteered at a single outreach event during Baltimore Black Pride Week. Since then, I have been working with Project Re_ to recruit individuals at LGBT bars. Having to approach people in an unfamiliar social dynamic while feeling out of place really challenged my comfort zones. However, I am humbled to have been part of so many intimate conversations.
I have met many motivated peers and faculty at Johns Hopkins who are very passionate about their work. Generation Tomorrow is no exception. The academic energy and community support for health equality at Johns Hopkins is truly infectious. I have been immensely moved by what underserved Baltimoreans have to endure, and I hope that my counseling has impacted their lives in some way. Generation Tomorrow has driven me to become the best counselor I can be while learning about health disparities. In future years, I hope to continue using these skills to help various communities and become an effective healthcare provider.
