Photos Courtesy Ryan Ross
Everyone’s bag tells a story, but few are as fascinating or educational as that of a sexual health officer at the University of Houston.
Deeds Not Words is a social club at the University of Houston that aims to advocate for social justice issues, raise awareness for safe sex practices, boost voter registration and much more. Sexual health officers within the organization provide education, support and insight to students for all things regarding safe sex practices, emergency contraceptives, STIs and more.
Cristina Hernandez, a senior political science major and sexual health officer at Deeds Not Words, shares the contents of her bag. Through each item, she also explains her daily necessities and responsibilities as a senior and club position holder.
What is the name and purpose of your organization? What position do you hold within it?
The organization I’m in is Deeds Not Words. It’s a social advocacy group about advocating for problems out there. Right now we are focusing on some students doing a hunger strike. I believe it’s day 24 that they haven’t [eaten] to call for the divestment of UH.
I am a sexual health officer; that’s one branch that we do. There’s civic engagement, a mental health branch and an LBGTQ branch. It’s a really good organization to be a part of for advocating and spreading the word out to students.
It really does feel like a family there. It’s so welcoming. I advocate for everybody to join.
What does your everyday schedule consist of regarding school and your organization?
On Wednesdays we have an officer meeting discussing events that we plan. Me and my beautiful co-officer Vincent are planning to do a sexual health event. We did sexual miscommunications around October. We did sexual topics people are scared to talk about.
On Wednesdays we usually go over what we’re gonna do, what upcoming events we’re gonna plan out for students to come to and who is gonna table. We usually give out free condoms, free lube and advocate for social problems going on now.
Can you start by describing your bag? What kind is it? How long have you had it? Is there a story behind it?
I didn’t get it from Texas, I actually went to Ohio. I’m walking through the mall and it stood out because it was denim. It’s a Coach bag. I got this cherry thing on it from a small vendor, it was around $7. I love it because it looks vintage.
If someone dumped out your bag, what would surprise them most?
The most eye-catching one is the condoms. Every Deeds member has a box of condoms that we are to pass out to any student, even if they’re not sexually active. They could give condoms to friends, cousins, sisters, whoever.
As a sexual health officer we advocate for safe sex. Next semester we’re gonna collaborate with the Julie hotline so we can have Plan Bs to give out to every student.
You can catch us giving out free condoms and lube, promoting our organization whenever we table.
Out of those items, which are the most essential for your everyday responsibilities? Why?
For my everyday responsibilities, the most essential is my lip combos because I usually put it on before class starts. One’s from Dollar General. One is from Walmart.
This is very essential because I like wearing lip liners and perfume. You never know when you’re gonna need perfume.
This is my day to day theme, if I were using another bag I’d just transfer my lip combos and perfume.
What item in your bag best represents your college experience so far?
I would definitely say having a pencil on me. You never know whenever [you’ll] have to help students register for voting. It’s a very accessible thing to have a pencil in my bag to sign for petitions that I advocate for.
You need a spare pencil for school work, petitions, or voter registration. It’s a nice addition to have in your bag.
Is there anything in here that connects to your major or passion?
Again with the pencil, showing what I really advocate for: making the change.
Instead of just advocating for social problems, we do deeds that actually further what we’re advocating for. That’s the same thing with the pencil, you’re signing a petition to hopefully pass as a law.
How has what you carry changed since you started college?
I put more things in my bag than I would as a freshman. As a freshman I’d just carry my wallet, my keys and some chapstick. But as I went through my stages in college, I carry anything that [I] need.
It [makes] me feel more mature—more in tune with myself—whenever I carry all my necessities. It looks chaotic but to me it’s my everyday life and it represents me. It’s who I am as a senior right now, and that’s what I love about it.
What does your change in bag stuff from freshman year say about you?
Definitely with the condoms, if I had them my freshman year I would’ve been a little questionable about it. But now, being a part of such an amazing organization—being a sexual health officer—I realized that no matter what classification you are, [you] should be knowledgeable [on] having safe sex, emergency contraceptives and STIs.
I would tell my younger self, the more you age, the more you experience and learn. It doesn’t matter what you carry in your bag, as long as it’s important to you.
How would one join or gain more knowledge about your organization?
You can find us whenever we’re tabling, we’re usually in front of Einstein’s.
Our Instagram is @deedsnotwordsatuh. We have a GroupMe you can join from our Instagram, you can find any Deeds officer there.
We want more students to be a part of such a great organization for advocating for social problems. Reach out to us, follow us and connect.
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