Living the Deaf Life

Originally posted by prettybebe78
waz-

:zzz: next time make it shorter for us to read it :) thanks I appericate it hehe

[m] Erica [/m]
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:laugh2: :laugh2:
 
Originally posted by Alex
I still remember the first time I jumped in the school bus, only this time the bus were carrying deaf students, and there was this kid sitting on the front seat. His name was Clarence, and not only was he profoundly deaf, but he was my very first deaf friend ever.

Signing took effect everywhere in every class I went to. It was totally overwhelming to me because I didn't know how to do the ABC's in sign language. I was used to talking and reading lips, and I felt like an outcast. However, it wasn't long until I learned certain words, and within weeks, I was socializing with my new deaf friends. I thought it was so cool being a part of the deaf community. That's when I realized I best fit in the deaf world.

When I reached my teenage years, things changed and I was placed in a mainstreamed high school with a deaf program. Remember the first day of school, you would get all dressed up, you were tired from the lack of sleep the night before because you couldn't stop thinking who you'll ride on the bus with this year or who you'll bump into in high school, and felt the excitement in the air? Well, I do.

Anyway, that was also the first time I experienced discrimination from the hearing high school students. Every now and then I would hear someone mimic a deaf student and the laughter coming from other hearing students. Knowing I had the advantage of both hearing and deaf world, I felt it was my job to defend my deaf friends, so I'd go up to them and start arguments/fights. After a while, it became natural to me. Of course, I would get suspended for my actions, but I didn't care -- nobody is going to disrespect a deaf person because he/she can't hear or talk, or both.

After high school graduation, then came the college years, and, again, it was a whole new experience to me. All these beautiful chicks walking about in the hallways. Aow! I felt so much independent, you could do your homework anytime you want as long as you get it done before deadline. That's where responsibility came in. Everyone seemed friendly and open minded, there was no discrimination at all, at least I haven't seen any yet. But, that's when betrayal and backstabbing and rumors from deaf people came into place.

Surely, it's nothing new, and it's been that way for a long time, but I've never had serious problems with my deaf friends before. It was personal this time. Like, I would notice how there were two sides: the good and the bad, and you had to pick one. It's like WWE, all for the purpose of entertainment and drama. In the hearing world, nobody cares, nobody pays any attention to little conflicts or problems, they just move on with their lives. In the deaf world, everything gets personal, everyone knows you by reputation, even if they heard untrue stories about you. They judge you, you are labeled as "good" or "bad", and they tend to side up with another to feel powerful. How lame, how pathetic, and how childish is that!? I still managed to survive through all the unnecessary drama, and still love my deaf community. I figure it's the Deaf culture.

Working in the real world wasn't as challenging as I thought it'd be. Maybe it's because I have the advantage to hear and speak, unlike most deaf people. No offense, my friends. But not always would I pick up every word my manager would say, and when I asked them to please repeat, they would kindly do so. Talk about professionalism and respect. Since then, I wasn't involved in the deaf community as much as I wanted to. That's when I created DeafModels.com and AllDeaf.com I figure I'd want to do something positive for the Deaf.

Now, all the drama and backstabbing and betrayal has come back. There are two sides again; the bad and the good. I am loved and hated. It's funny, or rather pathetic, how people are different online than they are in real life. They have two personalities. It's like, in real life you're really this down to earth type of guy, whereas online you're an asshole. I'm not saying this applies to everyone, but you know who you are. Learn to treat others the way you would like to be treated, and being online shouldn't be any different. If you don't give a flying fuck or two, or if it makes you feel macho talking all this trash, then you're just pathetic. Plain and simple.

Living the Deaf life taught me a lot. I learned all aspects of the Deaf culture, whether they were good or bad. I learned the advantages of being deaf and the disadvantages. The Deaf culture is part of who I am, and I'm damn proud of it.
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that's pretty awesome
reminds me of my CODA friends
they're mad cool & i love them to death
a question...
what you think it is, though, that gives you a sense of belonging here?
 
Wow Alex! Nice, Waz.

Life is a box of chocolates, huh? hehehe :P all chocolates have different fillings inside.

It's awesome that you are just gonna continue your life, taking what fits you or not.
 
Originally posted by DrStar80
Deaf some of not hot and pretty too. Almost Deaf are closed mind and some of like 10%. it is for SEX 1 stand night. SO, now u see at hearing people who are open mind example look at porn XXX which is different? that is why. ya know what i am talk. i dont have to tell u shit story. i am lazy.
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:werd: :ugh: thats why i always go out with hearing....sometime deaf...barely.
 
Originally posted by Stevey Boy
Bravo, Alex!

I like your well-done speech about your bridge to the both worlds: deaf and hearing.

Speaking of rumors in Deaf World, I believe there more much worse than Hollywood's rumors and gossips. I know that there are some people I don't know them would talk about me behind my back anytime.
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i argee with you 100 percents. eveytime i look at STAR magz- SO hollywood's rumors and gossips. but one thing, i imagie if there's deaf magz about rumors and gossips. it would be way worst than hollywood's news n bs.
 
Alex -- ur post said it all!!!!!!! very nice speech!!!!!

same goes for Waz!!!!!! altho u had it rough -- relocating between 2 countries and facing up to the challenges -- thats impressive and sad at same time cuz u lose friends and u make new ones as u go -- i hope u find ur friend Juan someday :)

they say it all!!!!! :thumb:
 
Ill tell you about how I got into mainstream school.. I was 3 years old.. doctors finally found out that I was deaf (bingo!) So I went to Binghamton school to learn to sign (forgot the name of it).. Where I met Brooke, we bonded quickly.. (as of now we are still tight).. I moved around a lot growing up, but I picked up my reading and writing skills fast.. entered Kindergarten at Northeast Elementary School in Ithaca. But then I moved once... and back again, held back in 2nd grade (I should be a junior by now).. and my reading levels were too way high for a 2nd grade student.. by 3rd grade I was already reading at a 6th grade level.. so my parents and the school district decided to allow me go to a hearing school right in town instead of traveling 30 miles in the morning and another 30 in the afternoon. That's where I all started... Right now I'm reading at a Sophmore college grade level (2nd year college).. my writing right now is standard to a 10th grade hearing level.. thats where I'm right now.
Hope that wasn't too long for these peeps that don't like reading too long.
 
Originally posted by Amby
Ill tell you about how I got into mainstream school.. I was 3 years old.. doctors finally found out that I was deaf (bingo!) So I went to Binghamton school to learn to sign (forgot the name of it).. Where I met Brooke, we bonded quickly.. (as of now we are still tight).. I moved around a lot growing up, but I picked up my reading and writing skills fast.. entered Kindergarten at Northeast Elementary School in Ithaca. But then I moved once... and back again, held back in 2nd grade (I should be a junior by now).. and my reading levels were too way high for a 2nd grade student.. by 3rd grade I was already reading at a 6th grade level.. so my parents and the school district decided to allow me go to a hearing school right in town instead of traveling 30 miles in the morning and another 30 in the afternoon. That's where I all started... Right now I'm reading at a Sophmore college grade level (2nd year college).. my writing right now is standard to a 10th grade hearing level.. thats where I'm right now.
Hope that wasn't too long for these peeps that don't like reading too long.
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Amby keep on reading and keep on writing! :) it not where u learn it's how u learn and movivate urself :)
 
Well, through out my deaf life was really struggling times for me. But when I was born in Texas, my deaf life was great because I was ard a lot of deafies and didn't think of myself being deaf. Just being proud of myself being deaf. Later on when I turned 11 yrs old. I moved to Iowa, I was put in mainstream for the first time since in Texas I wasn't really in mainstream, I was in classes with all deaf students. So, I suffered a lot of problems there, I got myself in trouble a lot in school in Iowa, also, I had been trying to tell my own mom that I don't understand my interpreter for a year because I never saw those kinds of signs before in my first year in mainstream. So, during that time, my mom never believed me she didn't listen to me or anything, she listened to my interpreter so I ended up giving up and not doing my homework, FAILED my classes, til end of the year, my resource teacher told my mom the truth that my interpreter is a bad interpreter and not doing her own job. She realized that I was telling the truth the whole time. So, I stayed back one more year in 6th grade so I finally passed my classes and finally got through 6 years with good interpreters. but the last year of my 11th/12th grade. I didn't even know that I had one more credit left to take in order to graduate from High School. So, my mom asked me what I would like to do, I told her I want to GRADUATE right now because I don't like those people around there like some interpreters that made me and my mom look bad and caused me having a bad reputations same as my mom too. So, my mom was glad that I decided to go to one of the college for one class to finish inorder to graduate. So, I worked for less 2 months then finally graduated. Now, all through out my growing in school, I learned a lot of different signs because in Texas I was used to one sign language which is SEE so now I know how to use SEE and ASL. myself I like ASL the mostly but in school I prefer SEE because it helps me understand more better. but i use ASL and SEE in one. It doesn't bother me at all. Whew, I got myself out of those struggling life for 7 years! Dang!!!
 
Wow Awesome Story !!! :) :h5::thumb:


Alex said:
Surely, it's nothing new, and it's been that way for a long time, but I've never had serious problems with my deaf friends before. It was personal this time. Like, I would notice how there were two sides: the good and the bad, and you had to pick one. It's like WWE, all for the purpose of entertainment and drama. In the hearing world, nobody cares, nobody pays any attention to little conflicts or problems, they just move on with their lives. In the deaf world, everything gets personal, everyone knows you by reputation, even if they heard untrue stories about you. They judge you, you are labeled as "good" or "bad", and they tend to side up with another to feel powerful. How lame, how pathetic, and how childish is that!? I still managed to survive through all the unnecessary drama, and still love my deaf community. I figure it's the Deaf culture.
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Maybe its "Small Deaf World" :):)
 
Hey Alex, great post and really really touching.
But you know what, you make serious mistake when you think life all roses and honey for hearing. It may look like that to you but I swear life in high school can be just so shit for hearing if we don't fit into "accepted" group.
I did not go to school in USA, so can only share what life was like here in South Africa. I went to academic senior school (Latin Math and Physics) but my strengths were English, Literature and Art. Don't have to be rocket scientist to work out that other students talked behind my back, called me stupid, ignored me etc., 'cos I took the "dumb" subjects.
I know being Deaf is a big defining status thing, but please please PLEASE don't make mistake of thinking all hearing are big homogenous anti-Deaf group. It is SO not true.
 
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