Financial hardships were rough on us, even though Mom had a good job at G.M.

Because of the lack of education on AIDS, discrimination, fear, panic, and lies surrounded me.

I believe in myself as I look forward to graduating from Hamilton Heights High School in 1991.

My name is Ryan White. I am sixteen years old. I have hemophilia, and I have AIDS.

Rumors of sneezing, kissing, tears, sweat, and saliva spreading AIDS caused people to panic.

AIDS can destroy a family if you let it, but luckily for my sister and me, Mom taught us to keep going. Don't give up, be proud of who you are, and never feel sorry for yourself.

A lot of my time was spent searching, thinking and planning my life.

Entertainers, athletes, and stars started giving me support.

Even at church, people would not shake my hand.

Eventually, I won the right to attend school, but the prejudice was still there.

Given six months to live and being the fighter that I am, I set high goals for myself.

How could these people in the public eye not be afraid of me, but my whole town was?

I came face to face with death at thirteen years old.

I received thousands of letters of support from all around the world, all because I wanted to go to school.

I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.

Listening to medical facts was not enough. People wanted one hundred percent guarantees.

Mayor Koch, of New York, was the first public figure to give me support.

Most recently my battle has been against AIDS and the discrimination surrounding it.

My family and I held no hatred for those people because we realized they were victims of their own ignorance.

My studies are important to me. I made the honor role just recently, with 2 A's and 2 B's.