Imagine cute little 8 year old Sarah.. HA. Definitely wasn't cute.. Anyways(:
I was in 3rd grade when the USDB (Utah School for the Deaf and Blind) moved their Deaf unit into my elementary school. CHANGED MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.
So here's the deal. Mrs. Allred would put signs and phrases up on her bulletin board, and if you would learn the signs and went in to show her, you got a fruit rollup (AKA the best things that have ever been made. Seriously. They're the way to my heart.. Even though my mom never buys them. I try not to cry too hard.) So obviously, I wanted the fruit rollup, and I would do whatever I needed to to get it. I quickly learned that sign language just came naturally to me, and I don't really remember how I went from the first day looking at the bulletin board to then spending every second I could with the Deaf students. Basically, I BECAME OBSESSED. Not kidding, every recess I had from 3rd to 4th grade, I was with the Deaf students and teachers. I became the weird girl who was always with the Deaf kids, and I OWNED IT. Haha.
Let me just let y'all in on a little secret, if you've never met a Deaf person, you are SERIOUSLY missing out. They are the nicest, funniest people you will ever meet in your life. Yes, this is a stereotype, but it's 99% true. I can honestly say I have never met one Deaf person who I've been like WOW, what a jerk. Cross my heart.
ANYWAYS, back to the story. By the end of 3rd grade I had earned myself one of the USDB teacher presents because I was such an influence to the kids and helped them so much. HEART=MELTED. Sadly, I left the present in my teacher's room on the last day of school, just like she told me not to, and she threw it away:( But, it's the thought that counts, right? That year I also decided that I wanted to be a teacher for Deaf students. That's right folks, at 8 years old I had my whole life planned out. Even better than that? I haven't changed my mind one bit. (Except for the whole idea of dating the same guy all through high school and then getting married the second I turned 20. Yeah.. That was my fantasy). I also started dreaming in ASL. Can I just say, coolest thing ever!!! GET ON MY LEVEL. So blah, blah, blah, 4th grade comes and that year's great and what not. But at the end of the year it was announced that the Deaf school would be moving again, and they wouldn't be at school next year. I was seriously heart broken. HEART BROKEN. But, on the bright side of things, Mrs. Allred decided she had enough of being moved around all the time, which I'm sure is a pain, can you imagine having to completely start over every couple of years? Anyways, so she decided to stay, and I got put in her class! WIN. I tried as much as I could to get signing time in class every day. Long story short, 5th grade came to an end, and I seriously could not handle life without ASL. I'm telling you, IT'S THE REASON I BREATHE. Try not breathing for a whole year and tell me how you feel.
So my mommy took me down to the actual location of the USDB, which didn't even have any Deaf students. Like.. What the heck?? Anyways, so we talked to the secretary, which really wasn't helpful at all. ANYWAYS. Sorry. I suck at staying focused. He told us that there was summer school 2 weeks in July that I could volunteer for. AND THEN WE FIND OUT.... wait for it..... wait for it................. MRS. ALLRED IS TEACHING IT. Uh, yeah, SIGN ME UP!!
So those two weeks in July come along, and every morning my mom would take me over to Mrs. Allred's house and then we'd drive out to JMS together. Gosh, I just love that lady(: So, basically, those were the two best weeks of my life, and even more solidified the dream I had of becoming a teacher for the Deaf. Teaching those kids how to read.. Is seriously one of the most humbling experiences. UGH. I miss it so much. I have so much I could say about those two weeks, but I'll save it for another post.
So.. From that point on, I KNEW that I would be taking ASL when I got into high school. In 8th grade I met three of the best boys I know. My Deafies(: Braden, Justin, and Zenn, THEY ARE TOO GREAT. I can not get enough of them to this day. This is also when I became obsessed with watching ASL videos on YouTube. LOVE them. We went to SYHOs (Signing Youth Hang Out).. Best things ever invented. I don't know if they fell of the face of the earth or what, but they need to start them up again so I can go back. HAHAHAHA. No, k. We were at one once, and Braden's girlfriend at the time, was trying to sign banana and signed condom instead.. OH MY GOSH I ALMOST PEED MY PANTS!! Everyone who knew sign was absolutely DYYYYYYING!! Too great, too great(:
Zenn, Olivia, Justin, and Me, and then Braden was taking the picture(:
Prom with Justin and Braden last year! Having an all Deaf dance group>>>
ANYWAYS, BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING..
- Graduate with my interpreter's license
- I am hoping and praying more than anything that my Heavenly Father will bless me with the wonderful opportunity to serve an ASL mission
- Go to Utah State and major in Deaf Education
- Teach Deaf students for as long as I want to and am able to(:
I guess what I'm trying to get at here is I love ASL, and the Deaf culture more than anything in this world. And it drives me absolutely NUTS when ignorant hearing people have the upper hand. I. King Jordan seriously could not have said it better when he said that Deaf people can do anything hearing people can, except hear. I love that and I believe that with my whole heart.
"The disability of deafness is not in the ear, but in the mind." --Marlee Matlin
FUN FACT, my sign language teacher's sister, is Katie Leclerc, AKA Daphne on Switched at Birth!!!(: Yeah, tell me how cool your teacher is.
Ignore my square face, and the ugly insta filter that made my arm turn black..
xoxo, Sarah
No comments :
Post a Comment