Hearing is one of our main senses that humans live by. It’s how we communicate, how we talk, how we function, but what if we didn’t have the ability to hear? Most people take for granted the ability to listen to their favorite song, listen to movies, and everyday conversations between one and another.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a server at a local restaurant. I went up to a table and asked how they were doing. There was no response. They pointed to what they wanted. At first, I thought they were just being plain rude but little did I know that I would turn around later to find them using hand signals as if they were in an in-depth conversation. It didn’t take long for me to realize that my customers were deaf and that I was quick to judge.
Since then, the table became regulars at my establishment. I felt helpless at first, only communicating through pointing and writing notes in between myself and these two women. They had me thinking more about what I take for granted, something I forget some people don’t have the abilities that I have.
After waiting on them countless times, I decided to take a class at the University of North Dakota taking up American Sign Language (ASL). Learning ASL has been the best decision that I have ever decided to learn. Not only was I able to learn an entirely new language that most people overlook, but I am now able to communicate with individuals in the community that aren’t able to communicate and much more.
About a semester after I started learning ASL, I would watch my two cousins that were still in preschool. Out of the blue, my two-year-old cousin started to sign words that would make my heart melt. I learned that preschools are starting to teach their children sign language as a more efficient and influential way to communicate.
I didn’t realize how common ASL is in our culture and I slowly became more and more passionate about it. As my passion grew for the deaf culture; I learned heartbreaking news. The University of North Dakota decided to cut ASL from the campus. This broke my heart entirely. I was frustrated, furious, sad, but most of all, I was confused. Why would they cut a study that has such a wide influence?
I keep thinking about the two women I would serve. How ecstatic they were when I started signing to them. I think to my cousins who are learning sign language in pre-school. I think of the children that have trouble communicating through speech so they sign instead. I think about everything I ever took for granted before learning about the deaf community.
I never knew that ASL would have such a big impact on me, that something so small as an action to understand other people, would help me find myself along the way. So, next time you listen to a song or ask a question, remember how much we take these simple acts for granted. Sometimes, taking these simple acts for granted will help you find your passions and will open up an entire world you never could imagine existed.
