The Sunny D’s is the HIV/AIDS awareness group at Hastings High. The student-led group gives presentations to their peers to encourage safe behaviors. Applications for this group will be available starting this week.
Sunny D’s adviser Chris Junker believes peer education is beneficial to students.
“For some, learning the facts about HIV/AIDS can be uncomfortable and even embarrassing for various reasons,” Junker said. “Having the peers provide the information in an interactive, non-threatening environment, seems to be an effective way to alleviate some of the anxieties that young audience members may experience if an adult was leading the class.”
Not only does Junker believe it’s beneficial to the students receiving the information, but also to the students providing the information.
“It has been suggested that peer educators can be empowered to take ownership of their own well-being and to take initiative to address the issues they are encountering, which may contribute to a sense of increased self-efficacy amongst themselves,” Junker said.
Junior Joanna Lopez-Hernandez joined Sunny D’s to help educate students about making healthy choices.
“It is gratifying to know that I may have positively influenced someone to stay safe,” Lopez-Hernandez said.
Senior Misael Heras had a different reason for joining.
“I joined Sunny D’s because I became interested after seeing a presentation my freshman year,” Heras said.
After filling out an application, students can expect to receive an interview time with Junker and the current Sunny D’s.
“After you fill out an application you are contacted by Junker for an interview where you will present a short presentation over HIV/AIDS. This helps show your ability on being a peer educator,” Lopez-Hernandez said.
After the presentation, interviewees will be asked questions by current Sunny D members and Junker. Questions could range from questions regarding HIV/AIDS and why the interviewee wants to join Sunny D’s.
Junker has certain qualities in mind when considering a Sunny D’s candidate.
“We look for mature, dedicated individuals that have an interest in HIV/AIDS, that enjoy helping others understand the disease and how to avoid infection, is comfortable with the language associated with HIV/AIDS, can remain nonjudgmental, are respected by their peers based on their words and actions, and want to make difference in the lives of their peers, not just add something to their resume,” Junker said.
There are currently thirteen Sunny D’s, nine of which are seniors. Junker believes twelve is a nice size for the group, but is willing to work with more or less.
“We really focus on quality more than quantity during the selection process,” Junker said.
Sunny D’s also do other activities besides just educating students about HIV/AIDS.
“Sunny D’s had a meeting at Hunan chinese restaurant to celebrate a Christmas party and we played White Elephant so we all got surprise gifts from someone and had a great time,” Heras said.
Heras recommends to anyone on the fence about joining Sunny D’s to go for it.
“It helps build social skills as well as meeting many people outside of school you may regularly talk to. Also, you learn lots of information about HIV/AIDS which can help not only you, but anyone, to be safe in the future,”
If you’re interested in joining, be sure to check in with Hepner or the office to pick up an application starting this week.
