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Bob, I just love how you came, and by the looks of it, conquered
the school in more ways than one. :-) Your shocking, yet down-to-earth way of
presenting really hit home. You have made a lasting impression, and have
encouraged several to join you in your fight in HIV awareness and education.
Thank you for opening yourself to our students and staff.
~Amy
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Dear
Bob, Some people think that a hero is someone
like a firefighter, soldier or a sports
star. Someone who is brave, honest and
invincible. After listening to you speak the
other day, I would say the true hero is you.
You are brave because you can say what you
feel and express your emotions in front of
100's of people. Living with AIDS for 23
years makes you invincible and for that, I
give you my utmost respect and thanks. I
never thought that someone could change my
outlook of life in just one hour. Out of all
the lectures and speeches I've listened to
in my life, yours was by far the best. You
give people a glimpse into the real world of
a person living with AIDS and you definitely
got through to us. You break the
stereotypical image of a person with AIDS.
You didn't want to tell us what to do, which
made us instantly like you. Someone who has
the ability to make a group of people laugh,
cry, and think, has an amazing talent. I
wish I knew the words to say how much I
appreciate you coming to to speak. I wish
you the best of luck on the rest of your
journey through life. If I could achieve
just a fraction of what you have done in my
life, I could die happy. But for now, we
both know who the hero is.
Love,
Bailey S. |
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Wow....where do I start! You came to Portland Community College today and I was
amazed by your story. Thank you so much for sharing and wow is really all I can
say. I love that you really look at the positives of life even though life can
be a complete bitch and bring you down. I'm fortunate enough to see things for
how they can be and realize that life happens and you deal the best with what
you've got! I still don't know what to say, I've never sat and listened to
someone speak with as much passion and intensity about something as you did
today! I guess for now all I can say is that I'm totally interested in getting
involved some how, and to say THANK YOU!!
~Amanda |
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Hi Bob -- You were
wonderful at AIDS Walk Wisconsin,
you have a great talent
to pump up an audience,
and your messages were
outstanding. Thank YOU
for joining us and being
an important part of the
day.
Keep up your good work
and take good care.
Doug Nelson
President and CEO
AIDS Resource Center of
Wisconsin |
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I adore you! You are so hardcore, you care so much
and have a pure drive that we should all be so lucky to have. Thank you for
continually sharing and showing how far a reach your work has extended. Anyone
who believes one person can't make a difference has never truly tried to make a
difference. Your work has inspired many, and theirs in turn has inspired others.
Once you start that ball rolling, it's hard to curtail the momentum.
Keep it going. Keep fighting and know that you are just absolutely adored!
-Jen J. |
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Bob was amazing. He is a
great speaker. He also
has a sense of humor
which made this more
informing and
entertaining than a
lecture. I expected an
old man who looks fairly
sickly, but instead
there is this young
looking, tattooed,
pierced man that
understands what our
generation is going
through. He opened my
mind to be thankful for
what I have and that
there is not really
anything wrong with
having HIV/AIDS. Sure,
it is painful, but
before he came I had a
slight fear of STI's and
people with them. But
Bob was so welcoming and
I saw that he really
helped other people to
open up to him and be
thankful for him coming
to talk to us. I hope to
see him again. America
needs to know the facts
of STI's and that there
is no reason to fear
learning about them or
someone living with
them.
~ Amy F. |
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I would like to say thank you Bob for speaking at my school and not being one of those boring school speakers that tells us all
bull **** about aids. You give your story and told us the true stuff about aids. I know you opened my eyes again on why i wanted to become a doctor. so thank you bob. Hopefully i will see you at the walk man.
much hope and love man
Marcus Hocking |
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When
we were told Bob was coming to speak to us I was expecting
the usual talk, dry, boring and with scary pictures, yippee.
To my pleasant surprise, I was wrong. Bob was nothing even
close to boring; he was one of the best speakers I have ever
heard in my entire life. He was such and
inspirational person to both my classmates and me. It was
truly amazing to hear his story and listen to him talk about
his life. Bob wasn't sad or depressed, or at least he didn't
show it., he believed that he almost got HIV for a purpose
to spread the news to young people like me and help stop
HIV/AIDS. For 22 years, Bob has been living with HIV, and if
he can do that, I think his message will enable people to
make smarter decisions.
Cali S. |
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Dear Bob Bowers,
Thank you for coming to
my school. I thought
that you were an
excellent speaker with a
lot to say. Something
that surprised me about
you was your carefree
attitude about life and
your philosophy about
living life to its
fullest! I thought it
was great and would
appreciate it if you
would come back to speak
with us.
~ Chris W. |
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I enjoyed Bob's
presentation very much
because of his friendly
manner, persuasive style
and interesting stories
about how he has dealt
with this disease. Bob
inspired me because he
was very brave about
dealing with the issue
and showed me that if
you truly believe in
yourself and are willing
to commit to a plan,
then you can accomplish
almost anything.
~ Alex S. |
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Bob was so inspiring. He
really taught me that no
matter who you are or
what is going on in your
life, you always need to
be your own person. The
way he is able to talk
openly about his
hardships and not turn
away any questions in
front of complete
strangers that couldn't
possibly understand what
he is going through, is
amazing. Bob Bowers is a
true lfe hero in my
eyes. He is so brave to
take on this disease and
just do what he has to
do to get through it. I
wish I had that kind of
drive and courage in my
own life.
~ Erin B. |
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I have never known
anyone who has HIV/AIDS.
Bob Bowers was a real
guy who has AIDS. It was
really interesting to
hear about a real person
who has it. To have the
courage to get up in
front of people and tell
that story in a real and
plain way is truly
admirable. Through
hearing about HIV/AIDS
from a real person, I
understand it better. It
was almost as if it was
becoming more real.
People always say AIDS
won't happen to me, but
this just proves that it
can happen to anyone.
~ Chloe S. |
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Your presentation in the
auditorium today was
absolutely great. You
showed me that there
really is hope for those
who have HIV/ADS when
they have the attitude
that you have towards
this disease. You show a
lot of courage going up
in front of people you
don't know and talking
about this infection.
You are the most
inspiring speaker I've
ever listened to. You
never give up and you
fight it like it's
another day. I really
appreciate this
experience and I admire
your courage through it
all.
~ Tom F. |
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I thought Bob's life
story was interesting
and full of learning
experiences. From the
point he was infected,
he learned a lot about
life. Bob learned
lessons that some of us
will never get the
chance to learn. Even
though we had already
learned about the ways
you can contract HIV, it
was interesting to hear
it from someone with
personal experience with
the virus.
~ Ryan W. |
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I learned a lot from Bob
Bowers' presentation. I
thought it was so cool
how even though he has
been infected for more
than twenty years, he
was still alive and so
open about the disease
and what it does to your
body. He is so brave to
be able to talk to large
groups of people and
tell his story to try
and help them so they
won't become infected. I
never knew you could
live so long with
HIV/AIDS. I always sort
of thought once you got
it, there was nothing
you could do and you
would die soon. Bob
taught me that for him
it wasn't a death
sentence, it was a wake
up call and helped him
live life to the
fullest.
~ Ann S. |
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Bob,
I thought your
presentation was very
meaningful. When I came
into the auditorium and
saw you, I never thought
that you would be
infected with HIV. You
were not nervous, didn't
look sad, and looked
convincing when you were
talking to us. I think
those were key things
why everyone paid
attention. I liked the
fact that you were not
using real technical
terms and being out
there when talking, you
were not shy to say
anything or nervous to
say things. You treated
us very maturely and I
appreciate that. I think
your presentation was
very good!
~ Krenare L. |
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Bob,
I like how you came to our
school to talk to us about HIV/AIDS. I thought you did a
wonderful job and gave lots of good information. I like how
you can joke about a serious matter that is affecting the
world, but still drive the point home. I also like how you
share your personal memories about your childhood and how
you eventually contracted HIV.
~ Dillon H. |
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I was very impressed by Bob's
talk. His courage touched me. It was very meaningful to this
kind of speech at my age, before it's "too late." I learned
that there is no cure for HIV and that you have to take a
lot of expensive medicine. I also learned that HIV itself
doesn't cause pain, but it can be painful emotionally.
Ahreum H. |
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I thought that Bob's
presentation was very
good and full of
information that I was
not aware of. He seems
very passionate about
HIV/AIDS and seems on a
mission to educate
people about this
serious issue. He was
really relaxed and
really connected with
the audience to make it
a fun presentation to
listen to. Bob was full
of interesting facts and
a lot of confidence and
feeling for what he talks
about.
~ Julia K. |
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Bob is one of the best
speakers I have ever
heard in my life. I
really enjoyed learning
about his experiences. I
never realized how many
people in the world are
suffering from HIV. Now
that I have heard Mr.
Bowers speak to us, I
would like to do as much
as I can to inform other
people throughout the
world and help them to
understand more about
HIV and its affects on
life. I am very glad
that I got to hear him
share.
Scott S. |
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I thought Bob was very
inspirational and did a
good job speaking to us
about HIV/AIDS. It
amazes me that a man who
has lost so much, can be
so strong and able to
tell people about his
problem. Having the
tremendous courage to be
able to get on stage and
present your life like
that is truly
astonishing. The way he
spoke was grasping and
kept me attention the
entire time.
~ Stephen G. |
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Bob,
Your speech was great. I
was amazed at how happy
and energetic you are.
To tell you the truth,
you are more optimistic
about life then I am,
it's great, just great!
I also liked how you
aren't afraid to talk
about HIV/AIDS, you're
completely comfortable
and I really admire you
and aspire to find the
simple joys in everyday
life like you do. Thanks
for helping me to
realize that even
though things can be bad
at times, that you
should always stay on
the positive side of
things. Even though
HIV/AIDS is horrible,
you have turned it
around and made it
something amazing. You
use it to teach others
about prevention and
other things associated
with HIV/AIDS.
Thank you very much for
sharing your energy and
information with us.
~ Ashley M. |
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I liked Bob's
presentation. I thought
it was very informative
and I liked how
honest Mr. Bowers was
about his personal life
and how he grew up. I
also liked how he told
us that you can get out
of any situation. The
whole "Don't judge a
book by its cover"
really applied to him. I
liked how he put his
problems in a funny way
and made us all laugh
(as well as him) at his
problems, rather than
being all "poor me."
It's so cool to see how
he has survived and that
he is willing to teach
and inform students
rather than feeling
sorry for himself.
~ Nicki D. |
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Bob,
I thought you were
really helpful in
informing us about
HIV/AIDS. I really
appreciate you coming in
and opening yourself up
to us. I thought it was
really helpful and mind
blowing. I like how you
made the presentation
have some humor in it
instead of making it all
serious. I know it is
serious but it helps to
not make the students so
nervous thinking to
themselves I need to go
get tested or I have
HIV.
~ Nathan H. |
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Bob Bowers' presentation
was one of the best I've
ever heard. He didn't
just give us boring
facts and not really
care what he was talking
about. He was very
excited to teach us
about AIDS and made it
fun to learn about and
didn't make it weird
like many people do when
they talk about such
things. I think it's
amazing the way he
lives his life. He
doesn't let it get him
down and feel sorry for
himself. He still has
fun with his life.
~ Matt S. |
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Bob was very energetic
and not boring. I love
his appearance with a
tank top, hat, tattoos
and a chain from his
pants. It let me know
that even though you
have a disease that may
kill you, that life
doesn't have to be dull.
~ Harry N. |
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As I was listening to
the life story of Bob
Bowers, I was glad to
see him standing in
front of 160 freshmen as
he told us what he has
gone through. Bob was
able to show me that
people with HIV are like
every other person,
except they have to be
aware that they have
HIV. I am now able to
understand that he
doesn't see having HIV
as a handicap, but only
an opportunity. I have
learned many different
things from Bob. He has
convinced me that there
are ways to prevent the
world's largest epidemic
and everyone can help.
~ Marc. P. |
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I really enjoyed Bob
Bowers' presentation
about HIV/AIDS. I
thought that he did a
very good job of
bringing the facts to
us. I was amazed that he
has been HIV positive
for over 20 years. I
enjoyed that he was
honest with his opinions
and how he was able to
make us think about
things we don not
usually think about. I
was amazed at his
determination to
survive.
~ Steve U. |
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There were a few things
I found really
interesting about Bob
Bowers' presentation. I
liked how he told his
story and was very
honest about it. I also
loved his enthusiasm for
what he does and life in
general. He definitely
offered all of us
information that could
save our lives. It was
so great to see a person
who is not in the best
situation be so happy
and excited about their
life and job.
~ Gina T. |
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I really appreciated the
presentation by Bob
Bowers. I think his
message is an important
one and he did a good
job of calling attention
to HIV/AIDS. He did well
in reaching out to us in
the audience by really
exposing himself to us.
~ John P. |
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You
are a very great speaker. Mr. Bowers, you are a very
wonderful, helpful and educated person and you made it even
better because you know exactly what you were talking about
because you have experienced it. You have made an impact on
so many people's lives and on mine too. You are a hero to
many people and you are a hero to me. I hope you keep
speaking around the world and helping people with HIV/AIDS
because they need you. Thank you for taking the time to talk
to our class. Good luck!
Sincerely,Mckenzie S.
7th Grade-Marshall Middle School
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Bob Bowers was a very
interesting and
informative speaker that
I thoroughly enjoyed
listening to. Bob has a
very inspirational story
and I thought is was
particularly courageous
of him to get up in
front of so many people
and explain that he is
an AIDS survivor. Bob
did a very good job of
mixing facts with
real-life experience,
another aspect of his
presentation that I
thought was very
well-done. He provided
enough technical
information, such as how
HIV is transmitted, yet
he also touched on the
emotional side of the
disease, explaining the
way he felt when he
found out he was HIV
positive. In addition, I
liked the way Bob asked
for audience
participation, but did
not make it awkward or
make us feel like we had
to participate. Overall,
I thought that Bob had a
very inspirational life
story and thoroughly
enjoyed listening to his
presentation.
~ Elizabeth P. |
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I learned a lot from
Bob. I thought his
speech was very
interesting with many
new facts I have not
learned before. Bob had
enthusiasm when he
talked which made me
want to listen more. He
cared about the
questions we had to ask
and was trying his very
hardest to keep us from
making a simple mistake.
I admire Bob for telling
his story. It is not
always easy to tell a
life story to people you
don't know.
~ Claire D. |
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I thought that your
presentation was really
inspiring. I couldn't
imagine living with
HIV/AIDS. The container
of pills that you passed
around really made you
realize how much you
have to go through. I
though that your
presentation was
informative and showed
that even though you
have the disease, it
doesn't affect how you
act. You seem very
positive and happy to be
alive. Your speech was
very powerful and you
should really go to
other schools and
colleges to tell your
story. Right now I am
wearing a product (red)
shirt (ADO(RED), and I
feel much more proud to
know what I'm doing for
the cause.
~ Alex C. |
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I thought that Bob
Bowers was a very
inspiring motivational
speaker. I thought it
was extremely brave of
him to talk about his
infection to a room full
of students. It takes a
lot of courage to do
what he did and talk
about living with the
HIV virus. Bob motivated
us to be careful when it
comes to sex and to be
educated about the
terrible viruses and
diseases that can be
spread. I enjoyed his
presentation and look up
to him for all he's had
to deal with in his
life.
~ Laura P. |
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I thought Bob Bowers'
presentation to us this
morning was very
appropriate in educating
more about the
reproductive system and
STI's as well as helping
us understand the
affects our choices can
make. I really enjoyed
his energy throughout
the presentation. It
made learning the facts
about this somewhat
embarrassing topic
easier to listen to and
made a larger impact. I
was glad to see him
overcome his rough
childhood, his drug
addiction, and I was
very inspired by his
hopeful outlook on his
situation. Through his
speech, my current
knowledge on STI's was
extended.
~ Rachel S. |
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Bob Bowers' story
humanized HIV for me. At
first, it was
uncomfortable to listen
to someone talk about
something so scary
and personal, but
eventually it became
easier to accept what he
was saying. His story
covered everything: how
he contracted it, what
he had to deal with
every day of his life,
and all the little
details that help him
through it. Mr. Bowers'
story gives me hope for
all people with such
diseases, and I have
immense respect for his
bravery in talking to
us. The presentation was
very informative.
Although sad, Bob
Bowers' story is
powerful and should be
heard by everyone.
~ Charlotte |
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Bob -
I just wanted to send a
message to tell you that
your presentation this
morning was extremely
informative,
eye-opening, and very
interesting. I commend
you on your drive to
make a difference in
this crazy world. The
world needs more
individuals like you.
You will have a dramatic
impact on so many people
and that is something
you should be very proud
of.
Janine S. |
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Hi Bob,
I was at the LTC Camp
Onaway through the Boys
& Girls Brigade last
week and I would just
like to thank you so
much for coming to speak
to us. You were a very
motivating and exciting
speaker to listen to. It
was great to hear your
story and your advice to
all of us. From
everybody I talked to we
absolutely loved you
coming, once again
thanks so much!!
Brittany |
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-Bob
My name is Jacob and I
am a sophomore from
Wisconsin Heights High
School. I think that you
are an amazing speaker.
I truly was uninformed
about HIV and AIDS
before you spoke to us.
I knew the basics about
the disease. How you can
get it, there isn't a
cure for it, and a few
facts on how many people
have/will get it. What
you said about Hep-B
being 100 times more
infectious than HIV
is....well scary. I
think you said Hep-B was
100 and Hep-C was 10
times more, but no
matter how many times
more its infectious it
is just plain dangerous.
It was fascinating to
listen to you speak
today.
I am good friends with
Kate and I would like to
thank you for what you
have done for her. You
really are one cool
dude.
-Jacob F. |
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Dear
Bob Bowers, I appreciated you
coming to our school and being
honest about your life and events.
The way you approached our questions
and were open to anything was
great. If you would have just
lectured us about not having
sex we would have just blown
you off but, you got us involved
and said I'm not telling you
to not have sex. That was a
good technique to get us to
listen. Thank you for taking
the time out of your busy schedule
to talk with us.
~Courtney
9th Grade-Parkview High School
|
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Hi
Bob,
I wanted you to know
that your presentation
meant a lot to me.
Sometimes a medical
student, including
myself, loses focus as
to why s/he is there at
medical school. We're
bogged down with so much
studying of facts,
figures, body parts, and
physiology that we
forget that we chose
this profession because
we wanted to help
people, our fellow human
beings. I, myself, was
lost in all of my
studying at the UW and
forgot the necessary and
absolutely essential
human face of medicine.
And you, Bob, brought me
back. You reminded me
that I came to medical
school to help people
such as yourself and to
serve as a patient
advocate so that
everyone has access to
medical care and
receives the respect and
kindness they deserve.
So thank you for coming
to speak and saying the
things you did because
your words need to be
heard by everyone and
used as motivation to
act. In a way, you're a
soldier of hope,
fighting our ignorance,
complacency, fear, and
doubt and filling us
with hope that people
can change, our
perceptions can change,
and that we will succeed
in taking care of each
other, one person at a
time.
Nathaniel Chin |
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Dear
Bob,
Your presentation
affected me and I will always remember your message. I
realize that AIDS is no joke, it is a serious and preventable
disease that kills millions. I learned to respect AIDS and the
people who suffer from it. Your presentation was very inspiring.
It is difficult to get up in front of a crowd and tell them the
mistakes you have made in your life. I respect you a lot for
that. Your message will never be forgotten.
Justin-Edgewood High School, Freshman |
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Bob Bowers enabled me to see the "real"
side of HIV and AIDS. Bob Bowers' incredible presentation of
his life story was truly inspirational. His honesty and
passion brought this issue to the forefront of my mind. The
most important thing I learned from Bob is that HIV is not a
death sentence. His strength and his courage are inspiring.
I will definitely go
hear him again.
Stacey
C.-UW-Madison
|
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Bob
aka the pirate
i just wanted to say u
made a big improvement
in my life i think u are
a hero and hope u keep
talking and speaking to
other kids because ur a
great speaker and u say
every thing from ur
heart and that is what
is great about u and i
hope u stay healthy and
as happy as u can be. i
am from marshall and
took pictures with u so
hope to see u again. i
hope u live the rest of
ur life as great as
possible i pray for u
~skyler s 7th grade
|
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Bob,
Thank you so much for coming
and speaking with us. It is
truly refreshing to see
someone so passionate about
educating the general public
about this terrible virus.
You spoke from the heart
which made your message all
the more effective and true.
Listening to you speak both
now and in the past have
inspired me to get involved
because like you said,
everyone's voice counts!!
So, I have spoken with some
friends and we are going to
be doing the Walk, Roll, and
Stroll this year as part of
Team Edgewood. I look
forward to hearing you speak
in the future! Thanks again!
Peace,
Greg S.
Edgewood High School
|
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Dear
Bob, I just wanted to
thank you so much for coming in and speaking to our class.
You really inspired me to do something with my life. Your
stories really touched me and made anything seem possible.
The way you keep battling really made me remember that
there really are good people in the world. I would just want
you to know that after you came, you became my hero. The way
you deal with your life is amazing. I honestly don't' think
I could go through my life like you do, I would give up. If
everyone had the will power you had, nothing bad would
happen in the world. I admire that instead of feeling sorry
for yourself, you stand up and teach kids like me what it is
like. I would like you to know that right when I got home
from school that day, I told my parents all about the
greatest man I have ever seen. Now every day before I go to
bed, I say a special prayer just for you. So, thank you for
inspiring me to live life to the fullest like you do. Thank
you again for coming in and talking to our class.
Sincerely,
Danny A. |
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Dear
Mr. Bowers, Thank you
so much for coming in and sharing your story. I was very
moved by your speaking. Your story astounds me. I am very
inspired at how strong you are and how you are living your
life as best as you can! I really appreciate you taking time
to come and talk to us and teach us how HIV/AIDS really
affects people's lives. I find it amazing and incredible
that you have dedicated your life to sharing your story and
educating people about HIV/AIDS. You are a remarkable person
and I think you have the biggest heart. I hope you feel the
best you can and live each day to it's fullest . You have
touched me and I will start loving each day even more. I
really want you to know that you have so many people that
care for you and whenever you are feeling down just remember
that. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to
our school and speaking.
Sincerely,
Michaela H. |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Mr. Bowers, I can't
believe how much you have done with HIV. I'm sure many
people living with HIV/AIDS look up to you as their role
model. Your speech encouraged me to live every day to the
fullest and enjoy the little things because you never know
what is going to happen tomorrow. I have never heard a
speaker before who is so realistic and compassionate about
what they speak about. I hope you keep speaking to students
as long as you can because you are such an inspiration to
everyone.
Thank you,
Amanda M. |
|
******** |
|
Mr.
Bowers, I am writing
to express how deeply you touched me during your
presentation. You speech was the most passionate,
interesting and encouraging I have ever heard. You taught us
the importance of hope when you are diagnosed with a deadly
virus like HIV. I can't tell you how much I respect and
admire what you do to educate teens and adults about HIV and
how it can ruin your life forever if you let it. Above all
else, I respect what you go through each day to survive the
the HIV virus and AIDS. Thanks again for your passion about
what you do and fro your caring about my generation. I will
keep you, Michael, Richard, Eddie and Hilary in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Jim S. |
|
******** |
|
In
our last meeting we had a guest speaker that was the most
courageous person I have ever met. He came to class
unashamed to discuss any questions we had for him. Likewise
he said things that were raw and uncut which made a big
impact on many students in the class because that is how we
relate to other people sometimes. Sometimes the message
doesn't go through as well if we had a more formal
presentation. Bob Bowers' presentation was real and in your
face.
Curtis
M.-UW-Madison
|
|
******** |
|
Dear
Mr. Bowers, I truly
admire your courage to tell your story. You told us what the
facts were and unlike many people in our society today you
didn't say "Don't do it" you just told us to be smart about
it. I don't think there was even a sentence that could
describe the feeling I had during your talk. I thought you
were a very strong person. I don't think I would have been
able to get up and talk to 200 students, let alone survive
for 23 years. You have learned to cherish everything and
take nothing for granted. Everything that came out of your
mouth was inspirational and meaningful. You truly touched
me. If people had one tenth of the strength and ambition you
have I know our world would be a better place. I wish you
would have been able to stay with us long because it was
such a moving discussion.
Stay Strong,
Carrie Beth |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Mr. Bowers, There are
few words that could describe how I felt after you talked to
us about your ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS. I think the
best word I could use is touched. I am touched by your
courage and ability to face this disease with a positive
outlook. You are a great and amazing role model, not just
for those struggling with HIV/AIDS, but for everyone. For
that I admire you greatly. I just wanted to say thank you
for all that you have done. You have affected not just me,
but everyone who has heard your message. Please don't ever
stop doing what you do, because you give courage and hope to
everyone who needs it.
Love,
Samantha L. |
|
******** |
|
Bob,
I want to thank you for coming
in and talking to us about HIV/AIDS. It was great because
you showed so much emotion about it and obviously knew what
you were talking about. I can't express in words how
thankful I am for you coming to talk to us. I want to say
thank you for not only teaching us about HIV/AIDS but also
teaching a little about life. It was so intensely inspiring
to see the passion you have and to see a grown man like you
who looks so tough just cry because of the pain you go
through every day but you still somehow pull together the
strength to survive and keep going on to speak to people
like me. I have learned to appreciate my my life and I have
realized how good it is because of you. You are a
great guy and I hope when I am an adult I can be a fraction
of the man you are.
Thank you,
Levi R. |
|
******** |
|
I
want to say that I appreciated
every word Bob Bowers said. I am deeply impacted by the
spiritual aspect of Mr. Bowers' life. How can he have faith
in God after all the treatments, medication and near-death
experiences, I'm not sure. I used to think HIV/AIDS was a
terrible thing, but after his speech, I realized it's how
you look at it. Bob looked like just another face in the
crowd. I would have never guessed he was infected with
HIV/AIDS for more than 20 years. I would like to thank Bob,
the teachers, and the school for making this experience
happen. I was truly touched. Thank you so much Bob! This was
one of the things that will affect my life forever!
Keep Hope,
Brittany S.
9th Grade |
|
******** |
|
Dear Mr.
Bowers,
Your talk
really opened my eyes and made me want to help out in my
society to spread the word about HIV/AIDS, doing exactly
what you do. Your tears were shared with me, and I cried,
not for sympathy for you but in live, knowing that one of my
brothers was suffering from something he did not need to
have. I really want you to know that you have the support of
many, and may God bless you.
~Lauren R. |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Bob Bowers, I loved
the presentation you gave on HIV/AIDS. It was very moving
and so real. At times I found myself trying to hold back my
own tears. I think that what you do is wonderful, helping
teens make wiser choices and educating them. Your speech was
not only informative but entertaining as well. I hope you
keep up the good health for many, many more years to come.
Thanks Again,
Kelly M.
Madison, Wisconsin |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Mr. Bowers,
I do not know
how to thank you enough. It is hard enough for me to even
think about getting AIDS, but to have the integrity to
openly discuss it with hundreds of kids is truly incredible.
You are an amazing person and I am so glad I had the
opportunity to meet you. Thank you so much for showing me
the value of life and I wish you the best.
~Joseph L. |
|
******** |
|
I
learned a lot from Bob but didn't feel like it was a lecture
telling us to not have sex so you don't get HIV/AIDS. It was
more like he was our friend telling us about the disease.,
including ways to get it, ways to prevent it, and the
consequences of having to deal with it for the rest of your
life. I feel so appreciative that we got the chance to hear this
gifted speaker talk to us.
Sarah-Edgewood High School, Freshman |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Mr. Bowers, Thank you
for coming to speak about HIV/AIDS. I found it very
informative and insightful. Some people might just sit at
home feeling sorry for themselves, but your are trying to
make something good come out of something bad. So thank you.
You didn't try and preach to us or force your ideas on us.
You just told your story. I found it inspirational, because
now when something bad happens, I can remember to be strong
and not lose hope. I also liked that you didn't just talk at
us; you talked to us. Remember to stay strong and not lose
hope.
Best Wishes,
Claire M. |
|
******** |
|
I thought Bob was a very
exceptional speaker. His talk on AIDS was very informative
and eye opening. It made me realize how real AIDS is and
that it's not a disease that happens only in other towns,
it's everywhere. I really enjoyed that he answered specific
questions that we had about AIDS instead of making it a
lecture. It is really amazing that he is still here today
after all he has been through. I would like to think that I
could survive so long, but I don't know if I could. I think
this is the most persuasive and moving guest speaker that
has come to school so far. I know that everyone else agrees
with me because even when the lunch bell rang, none of us
moved. That truly is respect! I hope that he can continue to
give his speech to as many people as he can. I hope that he
lives to receive many more tattoos.
John V. |
|
******** |
Hello
Bob!
I'm trusting you made it home ok and are rested up from your
trip to Orfordville this morning. Thank you so much. I heard
so many great things from the kids regarding you and your
talk with them. They do admire you and your candidness...I
highly recommend you continue speaking to the kids on that
level. Your message really gets them to listen.
Again, thank you so much. You truly are a remarkable
individual!
Valerie
Parkview High School |
|
******** |
Dear
Mr. Bowers,
I am a freshman student at Edgewood High School, and I can not
express in words how grateful I am that you came to talk to
us about HIV/AIDS. Your presentation was very inspiring, and
it really hit home. I know you probably hear this all the
time, but I think you are one of the most amazing people I
have ever met. You have more courage than I or anyone else I
know could ever have, living with this disease every single
day without ever giving up. It really made me think how
blessed I am, and how everything can change in a heartbeat,
and how every day we should celebrate life, not take it for
granted. Your presentation really came from the heart, and
that meant a lot to me, because I think that being
"protected" from the truth and "blinded" from what is really
going on is wrong. This message needs to be spread, and I
just e-mailed to say thank you so much for showing me that
one person can make a difference.
Thank you and best wishes,
Arial Shogren |
|
******** |
|
Bob,
I just
wanted to let you know that you are
truly an inspiration to all. Your heart
is amazing and your light shines to all
those around you. Where i come from when
you are diagnosed with AIDS it is as if
your life is over, There is no money for
medicine, and because at times there is
no support system, so for some there is
no hope. I just want to express that God
is using you in unbelievable ways. Thank
you for touching my life, While in
Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Hearing you,
seeing you, and talking to you was truly
a blessing. God bless you. Thank you |
|
******** |
|
You
are a very great speaker. Mr. Bowers, you are a very
wonderful, helpful and educated person and you made it even
better because you know exactly what you were talking about
because you have experienced it. You have made an impact on
so many people's lives and on mine too. You are a hero to
many people and you are a hero to me. I hope you keep
speaking around the world and helping people with HIV/AIDS
because they need you. Thank you for taking the time to talk
to our class. Good luck!
Sincerely,Mckenzie S.
7th Grade-Marshall Middle School |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Bob Bowers, Thank you
for speaking. I appreciated your personal stories which
forever change my image of HIV/AIDS. I will never
forget the information you shared with us that day, it
touched me deeply. When you shared the difficulties and
challenges you face on a daily basis, HIV/AIDS became real t
o me. HIV/AIDS became more than just an infection, you
opened my eyes to the struggles , pain, and reality. Thank
you again for taking the time to share your stories and
knowledge, I truly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Ali M. |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Bob,
Wow! That is all I can say, "wow!"
You gave what has to be on of the most inspiring speeches that I
have ever heard. I can honestly say that giving that speech,
made me think of my life and what I can do to make a difference.
For that I am very thankful. My Dad was in the Peaces Corps and
has traveled the world since. He told me the horrors that AIDS
has inflicted on people in many countries. We all hope for the
day when there will be medications for AIDS that are inexpensive
and easily available throughout the world. We also hope that
AIDS can be eliminated altogether. Once again, form the bottom
of my heart, I thank you for giving us your time to talk about
AIDS and how it has affected your life. I can bet you that there
was not one person that walked out of that auditorium that was
not moved in some way or another. I will pray for you and your
family.
God Bless,
Matthew S.
|
|
******** |
|
Dear
Bob, You are honestly
one of the strongest people that I have ever seen. Not just
because you looked physically fit, but how you were so
emotionally strong as well. You've taught me that you can't
stereotype someone with HIV/AIDS. Thank again, your are
honestly one of the most remarkable people I have ever seen.
Sincerely,
Cassie L. |
|
******** |
|
Before
this class, if anyone would have asked me if I thought it
was possible that someone who contracted HIV/AIDS over 20
years ago would still be alive, I would have most likely
have said no. I was extremely shocked to hear Bob's story.
He was faced with some awful experiences but persevered
through it all. He has to be an extremely mentally strong
person, which is evident through what he went through. I
definitely am more conscious now then I have ever been
before.
Ian
L.-UW-Madison |
|
******** |
My
reaction to Bob, the HIV/AIDS guest speaker, was that he was
an amazing speaker with a lot of information on the topic.
How he tied in his personal life with the lives of other
people who had HIV/AIDS really impressed me because he was
very informed and knew what he was talking about. My
favorite part was when he showed the three-minute clip of
the documentary. It was a very tough three-minutes that has
and will be in the back of my mind every day for the rest of
my life. I guess I'll never understand why it can happen to
such good people.
Hilary G. |
|
******** |
|
bob,
what's
up, my name is luiz and I'm a 20
year old college student. you came
in today share your experiences in
LIVING with aids. first of all, i
would like to thank you for sharing
with a room full of strangers. i
admire your courage, will power, and
vision. many of us have heard many
things about HIV and aids but you
all put faces on vague numbers and
facts. it was so different hearing
first hand information about
something that was so "out there"
and intangible as people living with
HIV and AIDS. its impossible to
describe my feelings during and
after the presentation with words so
i wont try. i figure that you know
what i feel. once again i want to
thank you for sharing with all of
us. you have opened the eyes, minds,
and hearts of many .
with
honor-luiz
|
|
******** |
Bob's
talk was very inspirational. When he took those pills in
front of us, it made me think of how I have trouble taking
just one small pill, imagine if I had to take all of those.
I thought he was valuable and it makes me think even harder
than I normally would about this kind of thing seeing
someone who actually has it. It's much more moving and I
listened more to someone who actually is going through it
and was frank about it. I liked that he didn't hide things
from us and told us the way it is. He swore and told
personal things and that made it easier to connect with him
and actually listen to what he was saying. It was like he
was trying to have us feel it, not just talking to us. I
also like how he said that he was blessed to
have it and wasn't just standing there complaining to us about
what he goes through. I really enjoyed listening to him and
would like to see his documentary.
Katie R.-Edgewood High School Freshman |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Bob Bowers, Thank you
very much for coming to our school today. You taught me a
lot of things I didn't know about HIV. I appreciate that you
opened yourself to us and let us know how hard it is to have
HIV. What you are doing will help a lot of people and I
would like you to know that. I hope that your days will
continue to be full of health and other people have the
opportunity to hear your message about HIV/AIDS because I
know that you will make a difference in their lives.
Sincerely,
Tiffany D. |
|
******** |
|
I
was very impressed to listen to Bob's personal experience
because I've never met a person with HIV before. I feel
stronger than before and am aware of HIV/AIDS. I really
appreciate what Bob taught me.
Dahoon S. |
|
******** |
|
Thank you
for coming to speak to us. You are a very great speaker. Mr.
Bowers, you are a very wonderful, helpful and educated
person and you made it even better because you know exactly
what you were talking about because you have experienced it.
You have made an impact on so many people's lives and on
mine too. You are a hero to many people and you are a hero
to me. I hope you keep speaking around the world and helping
people with HIV/AIDS because they need you. Thank you for
taking the time to talk to our class. Good luck!
Sincerely,
Mckenzie S.
7th Grade-Marshall Middle School |
|
******** |
|
Bob-
Hello. You may, or may not
remember me. My name is Andrew K, and I was one of the students
who you so deeply touched today at Crossroads High School.
You're story (I would say lecture, but it really wasn't) was
the most touching, influential and useful piece of information I
have ever received. Within the span of an hour and a half, I can
easily say that you have already altered my life. The education
of my peers is imperative, and the message you send is that of
grand stature. You are truly an amazing person, and I respect
you for doing what you do. I cannot wait to work with you.
All the
best,
Andrew K.-Crossroads
High School |
|
******** |
|
I
think every week the speakers get better and better, this
week was no exception. Bob was by far my favorite speaker we
have had thus far. He told the truth, telling things exactly
like they are, no holds bar. I admire that greatly about
him. His story was so "real" and I think opened everyone's
eyes that you can contract HIV from a one time contact. It
is not something you are invincible to. He shared a needle
once and contracted the virus. His story, was the good the
bad and the ugly about the disease. In my life I have
attended quite a few funerals, but hearing him talk
about 40 of his friends that had lost their battle with AIDS
made it all more real and touching. Hearing him talk about
being on his deathbed, going to the bathroom that many times
a day and being confined to a wheelchair, but seeing now
what he is capable of doing with his life is amazing. It
shows the longevity of the virus and truly how different
HIV/AIDS can be for every person who suffers or is affected
by the disease.
Anne
F.-UW-Madison |
|
******** |
You
know it, Bob. Our love for you is big and it is
strong! I was bummed that we had to jet, but thrilled
to see such a huge posse to see your documentary. Way to go
Brother!
xox,
smd.
sean michael dargan |
|
******** |
|
Bob,
I attended last night's
screening of The Fire Within. Thanks for sharing your
story. It showed me a completely different side of the
disease and treatment. I've been very lucky and
tolerated the medicines incredibly well.
I did surprise myself by telling you of my status. It's
not something I share, even with my friends. The only
people that have known were those few I have dated. It
meant a lot to me that you created enough safety for me to
make that statement.
I wish you all good things in your life and your mission.
With gratitude! |
|
******** |
Bob,
Thanks for all of your hard work, humor, dedication
and compassion. The gates of Camp Heartland will always be
open for you.
Take care! Neil
Neil Willenson
Founder & CEO
Camp Heartland |
|
******** |
|
I
ABSOLUTELY loved hearing from Bob Bowers. I was so inspired
by his upbeat attitude, and I really wish we could have sat
there for another hour with him. I stayed after class to
chat with him a bit. I just found him so incredibly
motivating. It made me think about the little things that I
complain about, and after hearing a man like Bob, I realized
that I really shouldn't have anything to complain about. His
attitude and his intolerance for ignorance is an example for
everyone. After 22 years of living with the virus, Bob has
done so much to help the community and provide outreach to
people affected by the virus.
Jackie S.-UW-Madison
|
|
******** |
Bob,
The gratitude is all ours! The Austin group had nothing but
wonderful things to say about their experience meeting with
you. In the ideal situation, our speakers are honest and
open enough about an issue to really prepare our
participants, and I want to thank you for giving that
opportunity to the students. I've looked at your websites,
and your courage and passion are so inspiring. Thank you so
much for coming and educating our group. I wish I would have
had the opportunity to hear you. We will definitely be in
touch with you in the future. Thanks again!
Teresa M. Dzieglewicz
Associate Director
WUD Alternative Breaks
University of Wisconsin- Madison |
|
******** |
|
Bob
Bowers, On behalf of
Operation Fresh Start, especially the nurses, we wanted to
say thank you very much for taking time out of your busy
schedule to visit us. You really struck a chord with the
participants and we received lots of positive feedback. Our
participants are not used to listening quietly for an hour
and a half, but the fact that they did, means they
thoroughly enjoyed your talk. At the end of the event we had
them fill out an evaluation form. Part of it was rating your
talk on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being great) and the
average was 9! This truly shows the power of your talk and
how much they enjoyed it. Also, the participants said
unanimously to invite you back!! We also included a section
for them to write about the most interesting thing you
talked about and we thought you might like to hear some of
these:
*That it was a personal
story
*The difficulties living
with HIV but how enthusiastic you still were and how much
hope you still have
*The statistics about how
many people are getting infected
*Medications-how many you
have to take, the cost of them, the side effects
that go with taking them
*How having HIV changed
your life
*How much are are fighting
and campaigning for HIV/AIDS and all the work you do
*AIDS Inc. and the profits
the pharmaceutical companies are making off people afflicted
with HIV
*Co-infection, most of our
participants had never heard of this
These were some of the
highlights and comments that had a recurring theme in the
evaluations. Once again, thank you very much for talking with
our kids. Your speech was inspirational, informative, honest and
touching. Keep fighting the good fight, have faith, love and
compassion in all that you do and you can never go wrong.
With Respect and Admiration,
OFS nurses, Jeff, Megan and
Bunny |
|
******** |
Hi
Bob--
Thanks once again for coming back to talk with our medical
students! It was heartwarming to hear the Camp
Heartland stories, and I'm hopeful that you have inspired
some of our students to consider volunteering for this
amazing organization!
Your commitment to education, improving awareness, and
addressing the broader social, political and policy issues
surrounding HIV/AIDS is beyond admirable. We are all
very fortunate that you have chosen to spend your time and
energies doing this important work.
I look forward to seeing you soon,
Love,
Sharon
--
Sharon Younkin, Ph.D.
Director, Community Service Programs
University of Wisconsin School
of Medicine and Public Health |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Bob, Thank you so
much for coming in to speak to our class. I was really
inspired by you going to all these places to speak about
this bad disease. I thought I knew everything about HIV/AIDS
but it turns out I didn't even know half of it, but then you
came to talk and I learned a lot. I'll try to got to your
website ASAP. I think you are a very strong person because
you've gone through a ton of stuff throughout life. I just
wanted to write this to let you know you made a difference
for our class.
Thanks Again,
Krista M.
7th Grade-Marshall Middle School |
|
******** |
Bob
was a very influential speaker. He made me think about life
in a whole different way. I respect and admire the way he
has chosen to live the rest of his life. Rather than sulking
and giving up on life, he has chosen to make the most out of
the time he has been given. I think it's amazing that he is
dedicating his life to teaching other people about the
HIV/AIDS virus. It really made me think about how I want to
live my life. Rather than scaring me into making safe
choices, Bob made me really think about my life and how much
I need to value it. How I should protect myself and others
from making bad decisions that we will later regret. Not
only fatal
decisions but just little things in everyday life. His speech
made me want to call my brother and tell him I love him, and
go play with my sister for an hour. He made me realize that
it is the little choices tat we make that can change our
lives.
Maggie P.-Edgewood High School Freshman |
|
******** |
Bob,
I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your talk at
Edgewood. I think your story is absolutely incredible.
It is just amazing how you get the strength to get up in
front of people and just talk from your heart. I just
wanted to let you know that I will keep you and all
those afflicted with HIV/AIDS in my prayers.
~Greg S.-Edgewood High School |
|
******** |
Dear
Bob, thank you so much for coming to west to speak. Just one
short hour of hearing a brief summary of your story has
changed the way i look at lots of things. My understanding
of what HIV is, is totally different (and more correct for
that matter) than it was before. I am 100% confident that
you enlightened and changed everyone's life in that room
today. Thank you so much for your time and compassion.
sincerely nelle r.-West High School |
|
******** |
|
What
I really liked about last Wednesday was our guest speaker
Mr. Bowers. His story was not only moving but also extremely
empowering. He really talked straight from his heart,
which was very admirable. He talked about his experiences
with HIV and sort of "told it like it is" without sugar
coating anything. He made HIV seem very real in that he put
a face to the disease. We have been learning about what HIV
is and what it does to the body etc., but we have not had a
lot of opportunities to hear from people who have
experienced the disease first hand. It is really awesome
that he is such a strong person and does not let hate and
ignorance interfere with his life.
Katrina-University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
******** |
|
Hola
Bob...
I browsed
through your HIVictorious website yesterday and i just
wanted to let you know how impressed i was with the content,
your dedication, and your enthusiasm (by the way- the name
you chose is very catchy and easy to remember- all great
things!). Also the layout is very professional and easy to
navigate. Congratulations and good luck with starting
HIVictorious!!!
Cuidate mucho, take care of yourself.
Peace be with you...
LoLo Evans |
|
******** |
|
Dear
Bob,
I was profoundly impacted by your talk at West yesterday
night. It was completely different to hear about HIV from
you than from a teacher or a classroom. Your talk changed my
views about the virus, especially since it came straight
from your heart. I now know that spreading knowledge about
HIV is one of the most effective ways to stop people getting
infected. Thanks for the energy and empowering words.
I feel more informed and in control of my knowledge. Keep on
keeping on, and good luck with the rest of your talks. You
are truly one of the most inspiring people I have met.
Jessie-West High School-Madison, Wisconsin |
|
******** |
WISCONSIN
DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Dear Bob:
On behalf of the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, AIDS/HIV
Program thank you for participating as a panelist for the
Telling Their Stories breakout session at the, Caring for
Ourselves conference. We received many positive comments
about the conference. Your participation and contributions
as speaker and planning committee member was instrumental in
making the program a success. Thank you for your willingness
to share, to encourage and to help build hope for your
peers. Sharing your personal story and experiences helps to
encourage and demonstrates an example of human persistence
that exemplifies the conference namesake of Caring for
Ourselves. Participants expressed they have learned so much,
from your story, advocacy and leadership example. Again
thank you so much for your commitment to the HIV community.
Sincerely,
Gail M. Nahwahquaw
Life Care Services Coordinator
WI AIDS/HIV Program |
|
******** |
|
Bob-
Hey, I just
wanted to check in...I thought you were great last
week...From the feedback that I have gotten so far...The
kids loved you (as well as the staff)...You are truly
remarkable and I have to admit that I'm truly blessed to
have made your acquaintance.
I will get our sessions dates to you ASAP, so that we can get
you booked again....
Hey in the meantime if there is anything I can do support you
or the cause be sure to let me know...
Your Friend !
Excell Williams, LSW
Academic Support Specialist
Information Technology Academy
Division of Information Technology
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
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I
want to thank you and Bob Bowers for coming to Memorial to
share with my Family Life classes on the topic of HIV and
AIDS. I so appreciate help in keeping students informed
about this health issue.
Please relay to Bob how impressed we all were that he would
share his personal story with us, in hopes of alerting us to
the very real danger of contracting HIV. He has great
rapport with the students, who I know listened to every
word. It's a powerful presentation, and I'm very thankful
for your efforts in arranging his coming, and for his
willingness to gift us with his message.
I will certainly be in touch with you both again next year.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Sue Simon
Madison Metropolitan School District
James Madison Memorial High School |
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Bob,
Now that our semester is in full swing, I wanted to thank you
for your time and effort in helping with the Resident Assistant
Training Program during the last part of August. The successful
start to our school year, as well as the positive approach to
each day is evidence of the amount of knowledge your session
gave to the RA's. The RA's were able to retain an amazing amount
of information and each day I am impressed with just how
wonderful these students are. Your session on living with AIDS
is no different.
It is our goal to evaluate our training and provide feedback
to everyone involved. the evaluation information has been
compiled, and I am delighted to share this with you. The
students ranked your presentation as a 4.5 on a lykard scale of
5. In addition to compiling the quantitive measurements, we were
able to glean a few comments for you about your individual
session.
These include:
- I'd like to see him come on campus (Thanks for coming for
sharing your experiences on campus!)
- Very informative
- Thanks for this opportunity
- Absolutely fantastic and moving!
As you can see, the students enjoyed your presentation! Thank
you for sharing your time and knowledge with our staff! In the
spirit of our Olympic Training theme, thanks for passing on the
torch!
Thanks Again!
Katherine L. Wildman
Assistant Director, Residential Life
Beloit College
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Bob
was my favorite speaker so far in the class. Bob told us his
life story about how he came in contact with AIDS and how he
has been dealing with it. Bob's story touched my heart
because he deals with it in a way that many people do not.
To me Bob is an inspiration for many people who have AIDS
and for those who don't even have it. To those who have HIV
it is not the end of the world. Through Bob you can still
live a life you always wanted. To those who do not have it,
don't get it because your life will be easier, but if
something happens accidentally, your life is still not over,
it's just beginning.
Garnet
M.-UW-Madison |
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I
really enjoyed last week's speakers. Hearing the biology of
HIV from the point of view of a doctor was
interesting. The HIV survivor Bob, was so courageous and
strong. Having never heard an HIV survivor speak, I
found him to be truly inspiring. I found it so incredible
that after all he has to go through and dealing with all of
those things and let alone having such a great attitude
about it. I found his drug container to the most shocking.
The amount of drugs that one has to take just in one day is
unfathomable. I truly admire him.
Megan
G.-UW-Madison |
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I
thought Bob Bowers did a phenomenal job last week telling
the class about his personal experiences with the HIV virus.
He was real, down to earth, and open about everything. He
gave a straightforward and heartfelt account of what his
experience has been like with the disease and he really
grabbed my attention. I have never met anyone personally
with the virus and Bob was the first person I have ever
heard speak as an adult with the virus. While I attended the
Journey of Hope, I felt much more distant from the speakers.
They had great stories but I felt like we were in a much
more relaxed setting with Bob and he could treat us all like
adults. It was also cool to hear Bob's stories from an older
perspective. It was neat to hear how things have changed
with the virus over the last 20 years for Bob. I found his
comments about dating life especially interesting. I have
always been curious what it is like to try to date again
after finding out you have any type of incurable venereal
disease, much less the HIV virus. His story seemed
encouraging to children and adults with the virus...
Kate
A.-UW-Madison |
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David
writes:
Just a quick note to Bob ... Thanks for speaking to my
classes at New Roads the other day. I have been working
with kids for twenty+ years. Hands down you were
the single most effective outside voice I have ever
witnessed. Clearly that is because you were able to
touch the hearts of everyone in the room (me included)
in a clear and powerful way
Thanks!
hang in there dude, david
New Roads High School-Santa Monica, California |
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Bob,
Thanks
for speaking up about a disease that most people try to
hide because it is 'wrong.'
Talking about HIV and AIDS
and how living with the illness is, opened my eyes even
more. I had met you before but every time you talk about
it, it makes me cry. I know the medicine "cocktails"
make you a little sick sometimes, but keep your head up
and be strong. Thanks!
Much
Love,
Janice A.
p.s.
There is always calm after a storm. Stay strong Pirate.
Memorial High School |
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Bob,
It's
great that you took the time to come in and show us
a part of your life. Thanks for sharing and showing
us that you can't fix the past but only move ahead.
I hope you stay well and live long.
Lee
S.
Memorial High School |
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Bob,
Thanks a lot for coming in and sharing information
with us. Your presentation helped me realize how
serious this is and you showed me an example which
helped me realize it's not just something you read
about or see on TV. I strongly encourage you to
continue speaking because you speak in reality and
let us know that no-one is perfect. Thanks a lot!
Dominque J.
Memorial High School-Madison, Wisconsin |
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Dear
Bob,
I
think your presentation was awesome. It's really
cool the way you help other
people with AIDS. It is
really amazing the way you look with your condition.
I hope you live a long life.
Steven
East High School-Madison, Wisconsin |
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dear
bob bowers,
hello--my name is david rowe. i would like to think
you very much for coming to our health class at redondo high
school last week. i thought that your speech to our class
was very straight-forward and informative. i like how you
did not try to sugar coat anything just because we are
younger, like some speakers do. i learned many
new things
about aids that i did not know before. you really showed us
what hardships you have to endure, such as taking numerous
pills each and every day. i would just like you to know that
you did a great job with our class, and we really
appreciated everything.
david-Redondo Union High School |
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Dear
Bob,
I wanted to let you know how appreciative I am that
you came to my health class to speak. I had never
met an AIDS patient before, and the experience was
one that I will never forget. My friends and I have
been talking about you for days, and we think you
are one of the strongest people out there. You made
me realize how fragile life is, and how important it
is to be safe. Our class is so lucky you came to
talk with us, you really are an influential person.
My personal outlook on the
AIDS virus has changed,
and I am sure many of my classmates have new
perspectives as well. I feel privileged to have been
able to hear your words. Thank you for taking time
out of your day to speak with us, we really
appreciate all that you do. I wish you the best of
luck in the future.
Olympia-Redondo Union High |
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Bob,
Thank you for coming to our
school. It was a real eye opener. Your speech was real
emotional and touching and not one fact or question went
unanswered. It really did give me a better
understanding how
real HIV/AIDS are.
~Evan |
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Hey
Bob,
Thank you so much for visiting my health class. I'm
glad we had an actual person relaying his story
rather than a sugar coated article written by a book
or some other form of media. It's so much more
beneficial to have actual people with actual stories
and actual emotions telling their stories. I'm glad
you came to enlighten us because I truly believe
that ignorance is the enemy of society. Thanks again
for coming to help us choose the right decisions in
our lives.
~Wendy ~
Redondo Union High |
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Once
again, I have to say that I was blown away with our guest
last week.
Bob was very interesting. I was shocked to learn
that he married and got all of his
tattoos after learning of
his HIV infection. Obviously, it was surprising to me
because, if I was infected with HIV, I wouldn't think that
these things are possible. It seems like there are so many
less drawbacks and limitations to people who are infected
that I ever would have believed.
Brad H.-UW-Madison |
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Dear
Bob Bowers,
I am
writing to you in response to the presentation you
gave the other day about
AIDS at Redondo Union High
School. You really opened my eyes to the reality of
this horrible disease and the consequences that
accompany unsafe sex and sharing contaminated
needles. You really left an impact on me. Up until
the day that you came in and told your story, our
Health class has been very boring. Most of what we
have been learning we either already know about or
we aren't that interested in. I never really thought
anything bad could happen to me. When you walked in
the door, I really didn't know why you were there,
and when you announced that you had
AIDS, my mouth
dropped to the floor!! It seemed so impossible
because you are such an ordinary guy! Now I realize
that although
AIDS has to be "acquired" (as you
said), I should still take it seriously. Thank you
for taking the time to come speak to us (twice) and
for giving me the
opportunity to meet someone with
AIDS.
Sincerely,
Angela-Redondo Union High School |
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Dear
Bob,
Hi!
You recently came to visit my health class to
speak
about AIDS. I am so glad you came to talk to our
class. I think you are a very powerful public
speaker. You got your message across very clearly.
It was very interesting to hear your own personal
story, and you were very informative. You speech
made me much more AIDS aware. It was awesome of you
to take time out of your life to help us out! Thank
you!
Sincerely,
Michelle-Redondo Union High School |
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Hey
Bob!
Howz
it goin'? It was really great of you to come to our
health class and speak to us about
HIV and AIDS. I
think that it is great that you have overcome all of
the crap that goes along with the disease. It hit me
hard how bad it really is. I mean, watching you take
all those pills and hearing about all of your
complications really made me think. It means a lot
to me that you cared enough to come to speak to us.
It was actually pretty fun and interesting, it gave
the class a little flare. Anyway, thanx again for
the information and for being an all around cool
guy. And hey! now I know
someone who has AIDS and i
shook his hand.
Later
- John -Redondo Union High School |
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I'm
a student from Redondo Union High... my name is Maurice..
you may remember me, I was the big kid.. the tall one, but
anyways. I just want to tell you, that out of all the
speakers that summer session has had, I for one think you're
message hit home the best.. I like what you're doing.. and
amazingly God's let you still
live on for so long with this
disease, He obviously has a mission for you.. I'll keep this
short, so, in short, keep up the wonderful work, and all
else I can say, is don't give up.
Your one of a lot of courage to come out as you did,
and do.
All the best of luck to you. |
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Dear
Bob,
I
just wanted to thank you for coming to our health
class the other day. You presentation was really
inspirational and was a total wake up call. I think
that everyone left the class with a
different
perspective of AIDS and the struggle that people
like you face everyday. I am so glad that I had the
opportunity to listen to you and I know that you
have touched my life as well as my friends. I hope
that you and all your hard work continue to help
people get a clearer understanding of
the AIDS
virus. Good Luck in everything you do and I hope
everything work out for you in a positive way.
Thank
you again.
Chelsea L.-Redondo
Union High School |
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Dear
Bob,
Thank you for coming into our classroom and telling us
about your experience as an
aids patient. You are the first
person i have ever known who has the disease. Your story
really opened up my eyes and made me realize that if I'm not
careful it could happen to me too. Sometimes when i have a
bad day i think to myself how bad my life is, or some other
stupid thought, but when i think about you, and your
situation, i feel bad with those thoughts and realize that i
am very lucky that i have my health along with my friends
and family. Thank you for affecting my life in such a
positive way.
MOrgan Mathis |
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This
week you came, and gave a talk, to my health class at
Redondo High School. I have always been aware of Aid's and
have always been careful in what I do so I would not catch
the virus. But I have never known a person with
Aid's.
Before you came to my class I was aware that
Aid's was
something that kills people, but
Aid's never was really real
to me. In seeing you and seeing all the pills you have to
take Aid's has become a much more real thing to me. I now
know that any one can catch
Aid's if they put them self's in
the wrong type of situation. I would like to thank you for
taking the time out of your life to open my eyes up to the
on going battle against Aid's.
Thank you and may the pirates be with you,
Jonathan S.-Redondo Union High School |
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bob
bowers,
I'm
one of the students that you talked to in Mr..
Thurman's health class. I must say that you truly
have changed my outlook not only on
AIDS but also
life. I never knew the impact of AIDS on a person's
life before. I had not even known a
person with AIDS
before. your story was convincing because as you
said, it's told like it is. your medication sent me
over the top. if I were to be put in a sexual
situation any time in the future I will for sure
remember your words. you have also shown me that it
is possible to persevere through anything. if you
can withstand AIDS, then I can withstand anything. I
appreciate your dedication to helping the world
understand the
consequences of AIDS. wishing you the
best of luck and thanking you for your impact on my
life,
tez
Redondo Union High School |
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bob,
I
just wanted to thank you so much for coming to my
health class last week. I have never been
immediately exposed to anyone like you much less
someone with the same situation. your words really
opened up my eyes to a whole new world. it may be a
little scary, but it is reality and we all need to
face it. I do feel very proud to say that I do
indeed know someone who has aids. and that that
person is living a normal life and has been for a
long period of time. thank you, again. please keep
reaching out to others such as myself. the world
needs to be educated and with people like you, small
steps are taken to improve this problem. thank you
again,
kendyll
Redondo Union High School |
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Dear
Bob,
I was present at your discussion at Moorpark Junior
College. I don't know if you remember me, but I was
sitting in the front row and I was the first dude to
shake your hand afterwards. Whatever, that's not
important. I can't tell you what an impact your talk
had on my friends and me. I admire your courage for
being able to speak about your personal life in
front of so many people. You really made me think
about how I live my personal life. I am a relatively
careful person, but there have been situations where
I put myself at risk. I have never, knowingly, met a
person who was
HIV/AIDS positive. This gave me a
false sense that I was safe and that it can't happen
to me. AIDS prevention education had been drilled
into my head since the 6th grade but nothing ever
really caught my attention other than when I heard
you speak. I think what your doing for the
"youngsters" is great because you are the kind of
guy people like myself look up to. You know, a
person who knows what it's like to be our age and to
go through our experiences. I think that the
relationship between you and your wife is the best
example of true love. I may be only 21 but I
understand what it feels like to be loved. My
girlfriend of three years, whom I loved, decided it
would be best to go our separate ways. It hurt, but
I have to deal with it. I hope I can meet a woman
who loves me like your lady. I've got a cool-ass
chick in mind, though... Anyways, I just want to say
again that I think what you're doin' is great and
keep it up because I guarantee that you ARE making a
difference.
Sincerely,
Justin V.-Moorpark College
P.S. - Your
tattoos kick ass! Do you regret getting
them, because I want to get some but I am hesitant. |
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I
was in the class at
Moorpark college that you spoke for on
10/18. My name is Morgan and I am 20 years old. I just
wanted to thank you and let you know what an inspiration you
were to me. You showed incredible courage to stand in front
of a group of people and share your story. I hope that I
would show as much courage as you did and I believe as a
result of listening to you I can. I felt that I needed to
write this email because you have been on my mind all day
long. What you guys are doing is not only wonderful but so
important and I commend you for it. Again thank you so much
I don't expect you to write back but if you would like to...
best wishes Morgan-Moorpark College |
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To
Bob Bowers:
Rain and tears may wash away
but for you I see another day
I still listen to everything you say
hoping that there will be another day
praying for you in every way
hoping that you won't go away
because there are some people that may go insane
but then Bob I thank Debi for leading you my way
and teaching me things only you had to say
and take it to people in every way
it was an experience no one can ever take away
but for that I have to say
that in life people do make mistakes
but for all the people you have saved
we share a tear for you just in case
From
Mauro, a student at
Taylor School |
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Hey
Bob,
Thank you so much for coming to our College. Everyone
that I have spoken with has had nothing but
positive things to say about your talk. You
really touched a lot of people. Students liked the fact
that you applied your idea of "compassion" to a
much broader view of the world. I'm so happy that
you decided to come speak even though you were not
feeling well. You put a human face to
AIDS/HIV...you
were candid, you were real, you were appealing...and the
students could relate with you. So often, it
seems, AIDS/HIV is masked with clinical jargon and the
people are forgotten. Your efforts continuously help
break this misconception. Thank you. The day after you
spoke we were very busy with the free std
testing. Literally hundreds of people showed up to be
tested. I would like to think that your talk helped
convince people to show up and not be ashamed
or embarrassed. All in all, the week was a fantastic
success. We are working on some education literature for
this coming week that will recap on the week before.
This way we can really send home the message on
awareness. I would not be surprised if students next
year contact you to have you come back and speak again.
Keep on fighting and I wish you the best...as does
Beloit College.
Sincerely,
Philip Mangis-Beloit College |
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Bob-
Wow-You
are truly amazing! From
Lunch Lady to expert hugger you
gave 120 percent all day long. Everyone can thank you
thousands of times, but it will never be enough for all
you did for
ACT II. I am honored and humbled to work
with you and know your love can move mountains. I saw it
in action this week. God Bless! Thank you, Thank you,
Thank you!
Kevin |
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I'm
really glad we had the opportunity to meet someone who has
been living with this disease for so long. I now have a much
better sense of what it's like, and his stories were
unbelievable. He looks like such an intimidating guy-it's
hard to believe he ever needed a wheelchair. I thought it
was interesting how he said, "AIDS raped us in the 80's." I
guess when you put it like that, we are all very lucky to be
living at a time when |
