Just like any other teenager excited about going for a long vacation from high school, *Nicole had no idea how this long vacation would turn out. 

"When I finished high school, I got interested in dating since I wasn't doing much at home during the holidays as it was a long vacation before I joined university. This got me into a sexual relationship with a boy.” Nicole explains.

During her long vacation after high school, Nicole began dating a young man and she thought he was the love of her life! Out of curiosity and responsibility, Nicole suggested that they should go get themselves tested for HIV. Nicole and her boyfriend agreed to have their first HIV tests done, each separately. Her first results were negative for HIV, however, her boyfriend had tested positive but did not disclose his results to her. Because she loved him so much, she didn't demand to know his test results. After a while in their relationship, Nicole began falling sick frequently. Her mother was concerned and advised her to go and get tested for HIV since she knew about her relationship with her boyfriend. 

“I got tested 3 months ago,” Nicole said to her mother. She insisted and Nicole agreed to test one more time. This time she had the test secretly without telling her boyfriend, who had also stopped communicating with her. Nicole’s result was positive for HIV! “I was devasted and at the end of the rope! I remembered he didn’t share his results with me and I thought he was just being shy, but now I understood he was not interested in revealing that it was positive. I went back home and told my mother about the results, and she just opened her arms without any form of judgment. Just like a mother, she advised me to start treatment immediately and directed me to Alive Medical Services, since she had her sister under their care.” Said Nicole. 

Ever since Nicole came to Alive Medical Services care in 2016, her life has been transformed indeed. She joined the Victors’ Club, a group of young people led by the young people at Alive Medical Services whose mission is to build hope among young people living with HIV. Nicole’s dreams and ambitions were renewed for a bright future. She is currently a Youth and Adolescent Peer Supporter. Through the comprehensive services offered by Alive Medical Services, Nicole gained the confidence to contest in the Y+ beauty pageant 2021 where she was crowned as a Miss Y+ central region. She looks forward to using her story both at the national and international level to touch and change the lives of all young people irrespective of their HIV status. 

"Thank you Alive Medical Services and all donors, supporters and well-wishers for transforming my life! I am glad I can share my story and my abilities to change other young people" a message from Nicole.