It is now at this junction of my life where I reflect on the past accomplishments of my life and of those around me, where I am at now, and how I would like to continue on into the future.
Although I am a white male, the dominant race and gender in America, I am also Deaf. I come from three generations of Deaf families, and I produced yet a fourth generation of deaf daughters (2 of 3). Being Deaf, I naturally was raised in the Deaf Culture, and used its language – American Sign Language -- all my life. My youngest daughter can hear, so she is a minority within my family, but is a member of the majority of America.
As a Deaf individual, I was fortunate to navigate my life choices and experience amazing personal growth and accomplishments. By being independent, resourceful, and sensitive toward others, I was able to manage various life challenges thrown at me and conquer most of them. I attended three different universities, and completed my Bachelor’s degree during evening study while raising my family. In all places of employment I have worked at, I attracted successful working groups that trust and enjoy working with each other, and as a result, produced fantastic outcomes.
So, with that being said, I have experienced natural culture clashes, as well as intentional and unintentional oppression. With this life-long experience, I have learned there are numerous parallels to our struggle among different cultures and/or languages within America and around the world.
Once languages and cultures clash, behaviors such as fear, ignorance, superiority, and oppression are typical and to be expected. Furthermore, there is a typical misconception that the Deaf individual is not whole, incapable of achieving great things, not able to live their lives equally as productive and tax-paying citizens.
Oftentimes, when the Deaf person, especially in a second or third world country, is alone, isolated, or within a very small group of Deaf individuals, they may regrettably be led by the greater majority into this false belief that these misconceptions are true, and live their lives accordingly.
By living my life as a minority within the majority, I have learned to facilitate, educate, and help people overcome these issues. Their paths can be crossed, bridges can be built, and mutual respect for one another can be attainable. Often this may involve presenting workshops, sign language and culture classes, fellowship, and other means.
During the past ten years, I served as the Director of Technology for the Indiana School for the Deaf and as a Deaf Advocate within the local Deaf Community. I have developed quite vast network of people from other Deaf schools and communities across the nation. Chairing several national-level Deaf School technology conferences, elite national-level Deaf School Prep tournaments have given me opportunities to work with many different people from all over the nation. As the result, I have developed the trust and fellowship both from the Deaf communities and the general public surrounding them across America.
Using my inner respect and sensitivity for others, regardless of whom they are or where they are from, I was able to navigate through obstacles. I was able to elevate myself in all my places of employment to those positions that involve management, group dynamics, and teamwork. Although I am often the only Deaf person in each of these jobs, the language and culture barriers were quickly overcome by introducing the “Deaf person” and its language and culture to them with sensitivity, respect, and understanding.
I have this urging passion to extend that asset and my warm heart beyond our borders and spread that into the Deaf communities around the globe. Furthermore, I would love to bridge Deaf communities across borders and help emerge an increased sense of global friendship and good-will that would last a lifetime.
So, it is important for the Deaf persons, especially from those developing countries, to finally see another Deaf and empowered Deaf role model. Slowly, but surely, they will free themselves from the bonds of their false beliefs and oppression. They shall awaken from within themselves and learn of vast opportunities within their reaches. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I am confident I could be that Deaf role model.
By serving as a volunteer for the Peace Corps, it could give me a golden opportunity to “pay it forward”. The world could use people, hopefully like me, who can conduct themselves as good role models and instill into other Deaf peoples a sense of pride, self-esteem, self-worth and other attainable lifetime goals.
Additionally, this endeavor, I believe, falls in line quite well with several of the Peace Corps’ expectations; namely (1) the commitment in improving the quality of life of the Deaf community I would live and work with, (2) development of local trust and confidence instilled among these people, and (3) enhances the spirit of cooperation, mutual learning and respect, both from within these communities and between them and America and other countries around the world.
A wandering young philosopher Christopher McCandless (Into the Wild) once quoted right before he perished in the Alaskan frontier: “Happiness is real only when it is shared”. I expand that further by believing that accomplishments and successes are real only when they are shared.
