Blog

Tag Archives: get inspired

 INTERVIEW: GYT Ambassador Martina 

Posted on by

GYT talked with Campus Ambassador Martina to find out her inspiration for getting involved in GYT.  Feeling inspired yourself?  Then put your passion into action here by applying to become a GYT Ambassador!

Hey! My name is Martina, and I’m a public health major at UT Austin. I’ve been involved in our campus newspaper as a designer and can’t seem to get away from that basement. In my spare time, I love baking new recipes (cookies are my favorite) with some good music playing. I’ve taken up the nearly impossible task of trying to eat at every restaurant with 4 or more stars on Yelp. Most of the time I’m perfectly content watching movies, laughing with my friends and spending time with my family.

What’s the most played song on your ipod?

It’s probably an Adele song. I’m addicted to her album. Her music is perfect for anything and everything.

What’s your all time favorite MTV show?

I’ve followed the teen moms ever since they were 16 and pregnant. But Jerzday is also one of my favorite days of the week.

What inspired you to be a GYT ambassador?

I wanted to get involved with a campaign that was meaningful to me. I realized how little I knew about the health services that our university provides and wanted to help spread awareness on campus about having a healthy sex life. I’m excited about all the possibilities of promoting the message to students and collaborating with other organizations to promote GYT. People can get involved by simply educating themselves about GYT and passing on their knowledge.

 

 Interview: GYT Campus Ambassador Cassandra 

Posted on by

Check out what GYT Campus Ambassador Cassandra is doing to bring GYT to her campus at the University of Alabama… just another example of the awesome individuals who are putting their passion into action. Be a part of it! Apply to be a GYT Campus Ambassador here.

Welcome, Cassandra! Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Cassandra and I am 20 years old. I am an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama and an International Studies and Journalism major. I speak multiple languages and I write poetry.  I like to write poetry, read, volunteer at the local clinics, archery, and hang out with my friends. I also tutor English as a second language at the University.

Give us the inside scoop on all your entertainment favorites: music, TV…

The most played song currently on my iPod is “The Words I Never Said” by Lupe Fiasco. I really like this song because it talks about important issues.

It is so hard to choose my favorite TV show on MTV. I really like the show Teen Mom. I have been watching that show since the beginning. Recently I have become attached to the shows Teen Wolf and Awkward.

Why did you choose to be part of GYT?

My inspiration to become a GYT ambassador came from my friends. Most of my friends now have kids or are sexually active. I have been working to become part of a hospital project in Nairobi in Africa to help get the AIDS count down. I live GYT by helping at my local clinic, and I am working on my first GYT event at my university’s organization day to make GYT more visible on campus.  I have placed posters around the university bulletin board and I have seen many students checking out the posters.   I believe the best way that citizens in my community can get involved with GYT is by knowing the risk of not being tested and seeing the stats of what can occur.

Feeling inspired?   Be bold and be yourself—get involved with GYT by applying to become a GYT Campus Ambassador!

 Interview: GYT Campus Ambassador Ally 

Posted on by

Campus Ambassador Ally from Clark University shared with GYT why she’s passionate about sexual health, and what she’s doing to spread the word about GYT. Interested in becoming a campus ambassador yourself? Click here to learn how to get involved!

Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi! My name is Ally Boguhn, and I am a senior at Clark University in Worcester, MA where I am studying Communications and Art History. I am originally from Buffalo, NY but my father was in the military so we’ve lived just about everywhere and settled down in Maine about ten years ago. I have two cairn terriers, Piper and Baxter, and they mean the world to me.

I am the Co-President of my Vox (Voices for Planned Parenthood) chapter as well as Co-Director of Choices, a sexual education and health club. This basically means I spend most of my time advocating for sexual health and reproductive rights–something I am incredibly passionate about. I hope to be able to continue this work after college by working in advocacy.

What’s the most played song on your iPod?

The most played song on my iPod is definitely Skinny Love by Bon Iver. I can’t get enough of it!

When you’re not out spreading the word about GYT, what do you like to do in your free time?

I spend a lot of my free time during the summer working at a ropes course, which I absolutely love. It is so much fun to get paid to climb! During the school year I don’t have much time to myself because I’m so busy and active on my campus. My favorite activity is advocating for the causes I believe in, so thats what I’m always doing! I even write a sexual health and feminism themed blog,  so I guess I never really stop trying to get the word out about the things that matter to me!

What’s your all-time favorite MTV show?

My favorite MTV show has got to be 16 and Pregnant. I think it deals with a lot of really important issues and I love watching it! Television can be such a great teaching tool, and I believe this show really helps spread the word about contraception and sexual health to people who may not otherwise get that message.

What inspired you to be a GYT ambassador?

Working with my campus Choices group for the past three years has shown me how much students at my school really needs this vital information. Many people simply do not know that they should get tested, how to go about doing so, and how to protect themselves. Seeing this has inspired me to take action and make sure as many people as possible can protect themselves and have the knowledge to have the safe, happy, and pleasurable sex life they deserve!

How do you live GYT?

I live GYT by ensuring that the students on my campus have every opportunity to protect themselves and have a healthy sex life. I truly care about making this happen and do everything in my power to make it so. I blog, pass out condoms, get petitions, and rally to make sure Clark students and people all over the country will be safe and protected.

Have you hosted any GYT events at your school or in your community? What did you do and how did it go?

My campus is planning our first official GYT event this upcoming semester! This year, we will be incorporating some of the GYT material into our annual Sexfest–one of the most popular events at Clark University! I am also looking to bring STI testing to our campus for a day in the Spring in order to ensure that everyone who needs to can know their status!

How can people in your area get involved with GYT?

People in my area can get involved in GYT a number of ways. If you’re on a college campus, join your VOX chapter (or equivalent sexual health group)! These groups almost always participate in the GYT campaign. If your college doesn’t have one of these groups, start your own! It only takes one passionate person to start a great change. If you’re not on a college campus you can get involved by supporting your local testing centers like Planned Parenthood. Go to a rally, sign petitions, and call and write your state representatives to let the world know these vital services cannot be lost!

If you’re in the Worcester area, you can do your part by getting yourself tested. There is a Planned Parenthood in the city as well as several non-profits like AIDS Project Worcester that will get you tested if you need it!

Most importantly, if you believe in GYT live the part. If you’re upset about what is going on in the world, and especially in our country, you need to do something about it! Get passionate about the issues. Go out and vote, or even better, campaign for the officials that can make the changes we need. Sign petitions, pass them on, tell everyone you know what they can do to help.  Remember  that where you put your money makes a difference, so when you can shop at the places in line with your personal beliefs and who donate to the causes you care about. Give change a chance. If you don’t, who will?

 Interview: GYT Campus Ambassador Max 

Posted on by

GYT talked with Campus Ambassador Max to get his perspective on living GYT.  So get inspired!  If you’re a student and want to bring GYT to your campus, check out this info about becoming a GYT Campus Ambassador.

My name’s Max Kamin-Cross and I’m a 17 year old from Pittsford, NY.   I am a diehard Red Sox fan, so of course my favorite color is red.   My favorite place in the world is Washington DC, which is also where I want to go to college.   You can follow all my crazy adventures on Twitter at @MaxKaminCross

What’s the most played song on your ipod?

“The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco, but my iPod is filled with a little of everything from Drake and Eminem to some country and Taylor Swift, plus a little classical Mozart thrown in.

When you’re not out spreading the word about GYT what do you like to do in your free time?

Skiing, lots and lots of skiing.   I ski for my schools ski team and work at a ski shop so during the winter I spend my entire life on the mountain.   During the summer I spend a lot of time rock climbing.   Then all year round I work on different political and social campaigns.

What’s your all time favorite MTV show?

I’m a huge fan of The Buried Life and True Life.

What inspired you to be a GYT ambassador?

After I found out that one in two young people will have an STD by the age of 25, I knew there had to be some way I could help.

How do you live GYT?

Our school health classes are not very informative and really only cover the whole “don’t have sex” idea.   Being a GYT ambassador has helped me to be able add the real facts to the curriculum during health class.   It turned out I pretty much knew more about STD’s than our health teacher did.

How can people in your area get involved with GYT?

They can check out the website at GYTNow.org or head to our local Planned Parenthood to be tested at little or no cost.

 Interview: GYT Campus Ambassador Kirstie 

Posted on by

GYT sat down with college student Kirstie to talk about why and how she lives GYT.   So get inspired- check out this interview with Kirstie!

Kirstie: My name is Kirstie, and I am a 21 year old senior with an Individualized Major in Visual Arts, Criminal Justice, and Psychology at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI.   On campus, I am one of 10 Health and Wellness Educators (HAWEs). The HAWEs educate and promote how to life a healthy lifestyle for college students. We do workshops, presentations, one on one motivational interviewing, and campus wide campaigns on alcohol and other drugs, safe sex, fitness, nutrition, stress management, and other general wellness topics.

GYT: What’s the most played song on your ipod?

Kirstie: “Take it off” by Ke$ha

GYT: What is the best thing you learned from MTV’s 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths show?

Kirstie: The best thing I learned from MTV’s 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths show was about “double bagging”. I didn’t actually even know that people believed wearing two condoms was better than just one! It was a great thing for me to learn, because if another student came to ask me questions about double bagging, I would have had no idea what to tell them!

 

GYT: What inspired you to be a GYT ambassador?

Kirstie: I received my first condom demonstration and sex education my freshman year through a popular health group on our campus that had a huge impact on my college life, the Health and Wellness Educators (HAWEs), which I joined at the end of my freshman year and have been involved with ever since. In April 2010, I lead my school to win the GYT Campus Challenge with the help and support of other HAWEs, my supervisor, and our Health Services’ Office. I was amazed at how many students did not know that they could get tested and have it be covered under our student health insurance at school. I loved working with our Health Services’ office staff, and other Health and Wellness Educators (HAWEs) about how to spread the word to our student body.

GYT: Tell us about your school joining the GYT campaign

Kirstie:   Back in April 2010, my campus won the GYT Campus Challenge.   Our Health Services’ Office ran out of rapid HIV testing kits during that time because so many students went and got tested there! We spread the word about GYT through creative flyers designed by MTV as well as flyers we created ourselves specific for our campus, Facebook event invitations, emails from our Student Senate Office, and business card sized handouts to give to people as they walked around campus.   Since last April, GYT has been incorporated into every sex workshop we offer through our office, which are our most requested workshops.

We’ve had a great response to GYT on our campus from both the student body and our professional staff. The student body at Roger Williams University takes their health very seriously, and the number of students who went and got tested sky-rocketed after they found out the shocking statistic that 1 in 2 sexually active young people would get an STD by 25.   Our Health Services’ Office provides testing for students for little or no cost, and our student health insurance covers $100 in testing costs every academic year, so even for the testing that does cost money, students can get tested at least once a year and have it be completely covered under the student insurance.

GYT:   Sounds like your school has a lot going on, so how can students best get involved on campus?

Kirstie: First, it’s important to start with yourself. You can’t fully spread the word on GYT if you don’t know your own status. So Get Yourself Tested… then get your partner(s), family, friends, peers, etc to GYT too. You can brag about how easy it was to GYT to others so that more people will listen to you.

If you are a student at Roger Williams University, you can apply to work in the Health Education Office. We have work study positions available, as well as internships and independent studies for up to 3 credits. In these positions, you would work both directly and indirectly with the HAWEs and Director of Health Education on health topics, including safe sex and GYT!

If you are a local Rhode Island resident, you can volunteer or donate to an organization that provides testing and other services, like Planned Parenthood or AIDS Care Ocean State in Providence, RI. You can find these places, and others that are similar, by searching for a local clinic on GYTNOW.org

 

 Team GYT: We are One. Together. 

Posted on by

GYT has partnered with individuals- artists, designers, athletes, musicians, dancers, and others- who in everyday ways are living GYT. So what does it mean to live GYT? It’s all about knowing yourself and knowing your status. Knowing is everything. Here’s how the ACT blog describes the inspiration behind GYT. So rise up, check out Team GYT, and show YOUR strength.

 Team GYT’s Paper Twins Speak with the ACT Blog 

Posted on by

You know them as members of Team GYT. What you don’t know is why they chose to be a part of it. Paper Twins Nica and Edgar A. English are Atlanta-based street artists who know themselves, live inspired and share that inspiration with their community.

Take a look at the Paper Twins’ interview with ACT and see what you can do to live GYT.

 Perez Hilton GYTs, wants you to get involved 

Posted on by

Okay, so we all know his name and we all know what he does for a living: celebrity blogger extraordinaire! But what you may not know is how important certain causes are to the internet sensation.

Hilton is known for sometimes pushing people’s buttons on his website Perezhilton.com. But lately he’s been singing a different tune and encouraging other young people to do the same.

Perez spoke with ACT about incorporating the GYT lifestyle into your own.