Most people when they see me just see a normal girl with blonde hair and brown eyes, casually going about with everyday life.

However, I'm far beyond normal. I have a hearing loss.

But how come you can't see it? The lovely invention called hearing aids that I've been wearing since third grade.

It's funny because while I was born with a hearing loss, it didn't come into effect until I hit third grade when I was having trouble hearing soft s and t sounds. I eventually went to an audiologist and was diagnosed with a severe hearing loss. Along with that, came a speech impediment which caused me to go to speech therapy classes during the school day from third grade to eighth grade. I was set on an IEP plan in high school which will carry into college to help better my learning.

Did that make me any different?

Hell no!

I was only able to talk more openly about my hearing loss during high school because I learned that nothing about me is different just because I have bad hearing. I wrote an article in my school paper my junior year about one of my classmates who has a hearing loss also, including an author's note from a personal standpoint. The point of the article was to show that even though something has changed that classmate's life, she's still herself enjoying school and playing sports.

Just like how I'm still myself.

I'm still Maddie.

Just because I have a hearing loss doesn't mean that I would have trouble learning. I was able to learn at the same pace as my classmates.

Just because I have a hearing loss doesn't mean that I couldn't enjoy the things my friends did. Sure my definition of normal volume on the tv or radio was too loud for others.

Just because I wear hearing aids doesn't change my overall appearance. Most people don't even know I wear hearing aids unless I tell them.

My hearing loss didn't stop me from being normal. I get good grades, I am able to hang out with my friends, I never got a detention in my life, I went to sporting events, I play an instrument, I have a job, I do everything a normal 18-year-old girl would do on an everyday basis.

I live.

I have days where I wish I could be normal inside out. Where I wish I didn't have this hearing loss and have to worry about hearing aids constantly. It even comes to the point of questioning God why.

But then I realize I wasn't normal from birth.

I've had surgeries (three to be exact). I've had broken bones (a little too many to count). I've had pink eye. I've had strep throat. I've had braces.

This hearing loss is something I learned to be a part of my life, and it's something I have to live with for the rest of my life. Sure it can be a pain in my ass at times. Yes, I can be a bit of a pain asking people to repeat things to me.

It's a part of my everyday routine.

You know what?

I'm proud of it.