I Want the World to Know that We Have a Choice and That We Create the Greatness in Ourselves for All to See.

Brandee is an online peer educator with MySistahs.

My name is Brandolyn and I am 23 years old. I have resided in Texas all my life. I am very passionate about women’s health, especially when it comes to sexual activity. Since age fourteen I decided to pursue a health career to help my peers and the young women of today. I also took an abstinence pledge and advised my peers to do the same in high school and throughout college. In high school, I felt the health classes that were offered only stated the facts and did not empower the students, nor did they give the options to pursue a better life. Through peer pressure, many of my friends fell victim and caught various sexually transmitted diseases and gave birth to children that were in many cases unplanned.

For several years now I have worked with various organizations as a means to educate and empower the students at the high school level and also in the university. I am always looking for newer approaches to address these topics with the community. I visited Washington, D.C. this summer and discovered many women had very little knowledge of HIV/AIDS or the various ways of transmission. Many still believed that the virus could not be transmitted to them. I also learned that the majority of women use more consistently use methods to prevent pregnancy than to prevent possible health complications. The number of women who visit the doctor regularly is steadily declining while sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV are continuing to increase. So I did only what was natural, I partnered with various organizations including the American Red Cross and Advocates for Youth and tried to help spread the knowledge of the disease by meeting people where they were. I also worked with organizations that aid to women who have experienced rape. I am very avid about empowering women, especially those who feel as if their dreams have been stolen from them. Alongside that, I enjoy being able to recreate hope in youth, especially if no else believed in them. I enjoy being an activist because many people have not yet realized that they have a voice. There are many issues to be spoken of, many ideas to be developed, and more dreams to dream.