By the time he was seventeen he was working to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor available to Boy Scouts in America. This requires earning at least twenty-one merit badges and creating a project that demonstrates leadership and service to the community. In 1990, Nicols had his first opportunistic infection, which meant that he had progressed from being HIV-positive to having AIDS.
By the time he was seventeen, Nicols was pursuing the highest honor available to Boy Scouts in America – Eagle Scout. This required him to earn twenty-one merit badges and complete a project that demonstrated his leadership abilities and commitment to community service. In 1990, Nicols faced a critical health challenge when he contracted his first opportunistic infection, which ultimately led to his diagnosis with AIDS.