Why Asking for Help Is a Sign of Strength: Lessons from HIV Advocacy and Community Building
By Monroe Russell
August 6, 2026
As college students, we’re often expected to have everything under control.
Wake up. Go to class. Join organizations. Maintain friendships. Think about internships. Plan for the future. Repeat.
Somewhere along the way, many of us start believing that asking for help means we’re falling behind. I know I’ve felt that pressure.
As a student at Howard University, it can sometimes seem like everyone around you is accomplishing incredible things. People are landing internships, leading organizations, conducting research, and somehow still finding time to have a social life. It’s easy to look around and think, “Everyone else has it figured out. Why don’t I?” But, here’s the truth: most people are carrying something you can’t see. That’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through my work with the Empower Project at Howard University Hospital.
The Empower Project focuses on HIV education, advocacy, and community outreach, particularly among Black women and children in Washington, D.C. Through health education events, community conversations, and outreach initiatives, I’ve learned that one of the greatest barriers people face isn’t a lack of resources—it’s the fear of asking for them.
Many of the conversations we have through the Empower Project center around HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and reducing stigma. What I’ve come to realize is that HIV advocacy is about much more than health education. At its core, it’s about creating spaces where people feel safe enough to ask questions, seek support, and advocate for themselves. And honestly, that’s something many of us struggle with.
For Black women especially, there is often an expectation to be strong no matter what. Strong for our families. Strong for our communities. Strong in the classroom. Strong in the workplace. While resilience is something to be celebrated, constantly feeling like you have to be strong can sometimes make it difficult to admit when you need help. I’ve seen how that mindset can affect conversations surrounding HIV.
HIV continues to disproportionately impact Black women, particularly in Washington, D.C. According to the DC Health HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Administration (HAHSTA), Black individuals account for 71% of people living with HIV in the District, and Black women represent 23% of that population, second only to Black men. HAHSTA also reports that Black women account for 90% of HIV infections among women in Washington, D.C., underscoring the persistent racial and gender disparities in HIV prevention, care, and treatment.
Yet stigma often prevents people from seeking testing, discussing prevention options, accessing treatment, or even talking openly about their concerns. Too often, fear of judgment becomes a barrier to receiving support. The reality is that no one benefits from suffering in silence. One of the most powerful things I’ve witnessed through the Empower Project is what happens when people are given permission to ask questions without fear. When individuals feel heard rather than judged, they become more willing to seek information, connect with resources, and take charge of their health. That lesson extends far beyond HIV.
Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, academic stress, family challenges, financial concerns, or uncertainty about the future, asking for help is often the first step toward growth—not a sign of weakness. As a Howard student, I’ve come to appreciate how powerful a community can be. Howard’s culture is built on the idea that we uplift one another. Whether through student organizations, mentorship, service, or advocacy, there is a constant reminder that success is rarely achieved alone. That same philosophy drives the work of the Empower Project. The goal isn’t simply to educate people about HIV. It’s to empower individuals to seek care, access resources, ask questions, and understand that they do not have to navigate life’s challenges by themselves.
Real strength is recognizing that being human means we were never meant to do life alone. You can attend an Empower Project event, follow our outreach and educational initiatives online, schedule a routine health appointment, or start a conversation with a trusted healthcare provider about your sexual health. You don’t have to wait until you’re facing a crisis to seek information or support. If there’s one thing the Empower Project has taught me, it’s this: asking for help doesn’t make you weak—it gives you the opportunity to heal, grow, and empower yourself.
When we allow stigma, fear, or the pressure to appear strong to keep us silent, we deny ourselves the support and resources we deserve. Whether we’re navigating college, protecting our health, or supporting our communities, we are stronger when we allow others to walk alongside us, and that’s something worth being proud of.
Work Cited
District of Columbia Department of Health. (2024, March 8). DC Health HAHSTA announces Black Women’s Health Initiative in commemoration of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Retrieved from https://dchealth.dc.gov/release/dc-health-hahsta-announces-black-women%E2%80%99s-health-initiative-commemoration-national-women-and
cathyschaefer_stigma. (2025, September 3). HU Empower Project – Howard University Stigma Project. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from Howard University Stigma Project website: https://whocanyoutell.org/empower-project/
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