How old are you?
I’m 17 now.
Where were you born?
Kamloops, British Columbia
Are you shy or confident?
I’m pretty confident.
What languages do you speak?
I speak a little Italian, a little Carrier and I’m picking up French and German. (Editor’s note: The Carrier language is a Northern Athabaskan language. It is named after the Dakelh people, a First Nations people of the Central Interior of British Columbia.)
What month and year were you diagnosed with HIV?
Jun e of 2014.
You were diagnosed last year. Remember what time and day of the week that was?
A Thursday at roughly 9 something in the morning
What did you say when they told you?
There was a really long pause. I said ”I have no clue . . . ” I said “what am I supposed to do” and I put my hands on my forehead and I didn’t say anything. I was just overwhelmed.
Lessons you’ve learned about yourself since then?
I learned to be not so attached to the people, to the guy that gave it to me, or I would have never have gotten it.
Worst thing about being HIV-positive?
Taking the medications. That really sucks.
Best thing about being HIV positive?
The networking and knowing how involved I am . Also I’ve started living a lot healthier than I was living and developed an interest in health and maintaining it. I think I would probably have become obese if I hadn’t got it. I go for two eight-kilometer runs a day.
How many people have you personally told?
About 18
First time you ever had sex – when and where?
That was beside a lake here on the south side, last year, June 8th.
Who did you want to be when you were a kid?
I really admired wrestlers from the WWE (World Wresting Entertainment)
What do you want to be when you are older?
I would like to be a funeral director. It’s like a calling for me.
Last meal you had?
Pork chops with pineapple sauce, and a bit of spaghetti, a slice of huckleberry pie with whipped cream and to drink, a huckleberry juice with water.
Favourite kind of music?
Any kind of modern music form industrial metal to pop
Favourite band?
Rammstein (German industrial/metal band)
Favourite song?
Relax by Blake McGrath (video below)
Favourite TV show?
Ice Road truckers. It’s a reality show.
Favourite movie?
The Bucket List. Lsat one I saw was Ted 2.