"You're not deaf, so why would you need to learn how to sign?"

"Don't you have enough to do without trying to learn another language?"

"Why are you learning sign language?"

Besides the overall answer which is simply because I want to, my choice to learn ASL was made in a college seminar where there was someone signing for the members of the audience who needed it. Although I didn't make steps to learn until years later, I saw the best parts of knowing how to sign in a span of just one hour and a half seminar.

I witnessed how engaged those members who were deaf or hard of hearing were in the discussion, even though they couldn't raise their hands and speak or ask questions like the rest of us. I saw how even though we couldn't physically hear them, those members who were signing still had a voice.

And it was eye opening for me.

As someone who has always been able to hear and see, I think we take advantage of these simple yet important functions. Through learning to sign, which hasn't been nearly as easy as it looks (so props to everyone who signs on a daily basis), I've learned just how difficult it is to attempt to have full conversations relying solely on another person's hands and facial expressions to figure out what they are trying to get across to you.

I've also learned that being deaf or unable to speak isn't lacking...if anything, it's excelling. Sign language is just as tricky to learn as any spoken language and requires an immense amount of concentration. I've found that if you're not concentrated, you make mistakes...and next thing you know you're asking where your sorry is instead of where the bathroom is (true story, by the way).

American Sign Language is also making it's way into the public media, which is equally fantastic! One of the more popular shows in which sign language is utilized is "Switched at Birth" (it's also a really good show, so you should check it out anyway). Through sign language being seen more commonly in the media, it's been made a more normalized concept, and also aids in establishing the fact that just because someone can't speak, doesn't mean they are lacking as a person (this was also a concept portrayed in the show mentioned previously).

Ultimately, I chose to learn sign language for the customers at my job who get frustrated because they can't speak, for the people I may encounter in the future who sign and for the appreciation that just because someone can't speak, doesn't mean that they are any less of a person.

Keep calm and sign on.