Teniecka trusted her boyfriend of two years. She was monogamous and thought he was, too—until she tested positive for HIV in 2001, and also discovered that her boyfriend was married.

It took Teniecka a full year to wrap her mind around being HIV positive and to seek the support of an HIV/AIDS organization.

Although her family had a difficult time coping with the news, they now are her biggest source of support. Her faith also helped her get through the tough time after her diagnosis.

She wants people to know that, "Yes, there is life after testing HIV positive. Yes, you will feel very terrible at first, but life doesn't stop after your diagnosis."

"Since testing positive for HIV, I look at the world from a very new perspective. Life is a precious treasure and, if taken lightly, can be gone in moments. I am especially thankful, honored and blessed to have an opportunity to help and not just sit back. At the end of the day, I want to know I made an impact on someone."

From believing HIV was an automatic death sentence, and that there was nothing for her to do, she has become a student at Colorado Christian University, and plans to eventually get her master's degree in business management.

Teniecka has also toured the United States speaking about being HIV positive and the importance of getting tested. Plus, she's recently fallen in love. She and her HIV-negative fiancé are planning their wedding and expecting their first child.

To read more about Teniecka, click here.