They’re gone, now what?
Students will have a lot to think about after hearing the speaker’s story. Make sure you take the time to hear their comments and concerns and answer their questions. Your goal should be to help the students identify things which might guide them in their own lives, and in making their own decisions. This is an opportunity to emphasize that students control their own behavior, and can choose to make thoughtful and responsible decisions to protect their health. During the follow-up session:
- Ground rules still apply!
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- Listen to students’ comments and acknowledge them, whether you agree or not.
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- Help the students think about what they have in common with the speaker, if anything (age, ethnicity, religion, personality, etc.).
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- Help the students explore the effects that HIV has had on the speaker – both physical and emotional.
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- Help restate the prevention lesson that the speaker’s story illustrated.
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- Make sure someone is available to answer technical questions which may have arisen.
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- Talk with the students about how they might make thoughtful and responsible decisions regarding sexual behavior.
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- Encourage students to keep talking about HIV – to parents, siblings, friends, and among themselves.
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- Watch for the child whose personal experience made this a particularly upsetting class, or the child who is worried about his or her own risk for HIV.
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- Make sure students have resources outside of school. Some may prefer not to ask questions in class or may think of additional questions later. Be sure to have the approval from the appropriate school official before providing resources.
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