Every six month I get tested for HIV, and for 15 minutes of my life, I am scared. I sit with my legs shaking and stomach in knots waiting to see that one horizontal line stretch across the mouth swab. That one line means that the test is negative, and I am safe.

I’m always 99 percent sure that I don’t have HIV, or any STDs for that matter, because I always practice safe sex, but the uncertainty is always in the back of my mind. As soon as I scrape the swab across my gums fear sets in.

Luckily all of my tests have come back negative, even the one that I took Monday when Activities Programming Board (APB) was sponsoring free HIV testing in the health center for “Know Your Status Week.” I showed up overly eager to get tested with three of my friends and was surprised by the turnout. In the first 15 minutes of opening, the waiting room was full and people had to stand.

Gabriel Grady worked with APB to raise awareness and get students interested in getting tested and knowing their status.

It’s important for students our age to get tested and get rid of the attitude that they don’t care, Grady said.

“People our age have this stigma that they aren’t affected by HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases,” Grady said. “If you are having sex, you need to know who you are sleeping with and what their status is.” 

The majority of people that I talked to agreed to this statement but said they rarely get tested, or they have never been tested. Freshman public relations major Anna Babcock said she thinks people who have sex regularly who don’t get tested are playing a risk game.

“If you have sex on a regular basis than you should get tested on a regular basis, it’s simple,” Babcock said. “For all you know, you could be sleeping with an STD infested loser.”

Sophomore Justin Mizen takes a different approach to the subject. Mizen has never been tested and doesn’t have immediate plans to get tested.

“Ignorance is bliss,” Mizen said. “I rarely use condoms, and if I have something, I don’t want to find out and ruin my day.” 

Many of the people I talked to about why they don’t get tested said the embarrassment of the getting the test done is what stops them.

To that I say, embarrassment is the last thing that is on your mind when you are getting tested. 

The professsionals diving deep into your personal sex and drug life are just doing their jobs, and after the paperwork is done you can talk to them about whatever. On Monday, I sat for fifteen minutes talking with my tester about RuPaul’s Drag Race and future plans.

What it comes down to is whether or not you practice safe sex, have only had sex once or even are in a committed relationship, anyone who has sex should get tested and know what your status is.