Recollection

“Recollections” is more interesting because it matched my experience that I grew up in a deaf school when I was young from three years old until I graduated. Margie went to a deaf school for a long time but she attended three different schools during the rest of her life as oral, mainstream, and deaf school. I never attended other school because I didn’t complain about my school. Her learning in Kendall reminded me of my time in elementary when I learned basic things. Her learning was the same way at my school that they tried to teach us to learn vocabulary and math. Also, my mom taught me vocabulary and brought many books that she wanted me to read. Elementary didn’t teach me to read books on my own. My mom encouraged me to read and I learned. I was ignoring to learn by myself and wanting to have fun with dolls and playing with my sister instead of learning.

I remember I started to read books on my own when I was in 5th grade. When I saw a young girl reading a thick book, I was jealous of her. The young girl showed her expression that she enjoyed reading the book. It looked fun to read without a teacher telling a story and stressing with tests. I told my mom that I want to read a book. My mom was surprised. I started to read my first book Pony Pal. It is my favorite childhood book. It is good for kids who have an obsession with horses. I don’t like to hear the teacher tell a story not like Margie loved to hear the story. I love to read by myself to see words change into the movie or imaginative. Telling a story is just for enjoyment and putting me to sleep. Still today, I love to read that book. And thanks to that girl who made me jealous. ☺

When my parents found out when I am deaf at three months old, they were disappointed at first and accepted that we are as my dad’s parents are deaf. So, they discussed easily then they knew nothing about deaf. They keep me as deaf and sent my sister and me to a deaf school. But I attended speech classes from pre school to my freshman year. I was trying to speak but kept making mistakes. Most of the time, I voiced as mumble with no definition. I was struggling with it. I still remember I can say no. Speech teacher always said you will get a better or good job. I realized that they knew I was not very good at speech when I was in 8th grade. I complained that I wanted to quit but I had to go there because of my IEP. I entered to be a freshman and decided to tell the speech teacher that I did not want to learn speech and quit. They said I can’t and I don’t show up to the speech class. So, my parents signed the IEP to allow me to not have to take a speech class. I thought speech class was wasting my time. I learned nothing. I am happy that I quit before I was busy at high school. I am completely deaf because I don’t understand speaking and hearing anything.

I think this story is more enjoyable for me than “Learning the Native Language” by Susan Stocker. I am sure Margie will understand me more than Susan does. Susan just needs to express her feeling and her audience is her therapy. Margie told her story that she is proud that she is successful that she went through different hearing and deaf communities without a big struggle as Susan was frustrated with her hearing teacher.