Ryan White-30 minute conversation

When I think of the ability to influence, one of the first topics that comes to mind is when a certain individual brings awareness to all of society. Ryan White, a teenager from Indianapolis, created a face for AIDS awareness which differed from the previously believed carriers of the disease when he died in April of 1990. He was the first child to contract the disease and create a frenzy of fear of how the disease could be transmitted. After being denied admittance to many public schools due to fear of him spreading AIDS to other students, he was finally accepted and welcomed by a small farm town in Cicero, Indiana. He was denied previously due to the fact that many were uninformed of the ways AIDS could be spread. While Ryan contracted the disease through a contaminated blood treatment for his hemophilia, many believed it to be contracted only through the bodily fluids of gay men, the most commonly known AIDS contractors. After many legal battles with the school system and national media coverage, he was allowed admittance to the school. He later died five months before his graduation. Even though it was a short life, it was an important one. His life and disease created awareness for all of America that would change the way we look at people diagnosed with AIDS. Through his story the US government was able to create the Ryan White Act, which is currently the largest provider of relief for AIDS patients. If I could have a conversation with anyone I would choose Ryan because of the way he influenced so many others. I would simply ask him how it feels to be able to look down from heaven and see how he has changed the world and the lives of AIDS patients. If it was not for him people would still look upon those with AIDS in a way comparable to lepers. He opened the eyes of many and allowed those with AIDS to live the most normal life possible for the remainder of their time on Earth. Ryan was a part of a special group of people such as: Magic Johnson, Elton John,