So, I can’t hear things. Actually, I can’t hear a lot of things. I can’t hear my teacher diligently explain why their favorite author is the world’s greatest writer, or how that even relates to my Statistics class. I can’t hear my roommate complain that I make “repetitive” noises throughout my morning routine, waking her up.  I (thankfully) can’t hear crying babies that seem to plague grocery stores across America. But, unfortunately, I still managed to have enough hearing to awake at 2:46 on a Wednesday morning to the sound of a fire alarm and the refreshing smell of a freshman’s burnt cookie.

            My deafness is a little rare. In fact, it is actually one of the rarest. I have sensorineural hearing loss. Basically, it means that ever since I was born the little nerves in my ear that once allowed me to hear the birds simply started dying. They fell like dominoes for years until finally, about seven months ago, one too many had fallen and hearing aids were no longer efficient.

            There are many aspects to my life that I never thought would be so drastically changed because of my deafness. I find that I am more patient with people, because they need to be patient with me. My balance isn’t anywhere near as… gracious as it used to be. I can’t go through a drive-through window with a poor McDonalds’ employee thinking I’m going to turn him into Swiss cheese.

            Don’t get me wrong, being deaf isn’t the end of the world. In fact, I’ve met some pretty interesting people along the way.

            My roommate and best friend, Becky Starke, was there when I started losing the last bit of my hearing. She decided to learn a whole new language just so she could make me feel comfortable. Remember that freshman’s cookie I told you about earlier? She came busting in the door not two seconds later to make absolutely sure I hear the alarm. I never would have had the same relationship with her that I do now I had never become deaf.  

            My deafness even led me to meet the man I actually feel the need to listen to all the time. Not only was he the first guy to be intrigued about my disability and what it does, but he was the first one who was willing to put up with it for more than a year.

            In addition to these wonderful relationships, I also meet people from the opposite end of the spectrum. I have had job offers revoked, my heart broken, and even been labeled as mentally retarded by a retail worker.

            Over all, being deaf has given me a perspective that I simply would not give up, even if it meant regaining my hearing. I simply spend too much time enjoying things I see, feel, and experience to give it away. Every day I meet people love me and appreciate me for who I am, and one of those people… is me.