How American Sign Language Changed My Life by Aubrey

How American Sign Language Changed My Life by Aubrey - November 2015 Scholarship Essay

In my high school years, I have been extremely thankful for the opportunity to learn American Sign Language. When I entered my sophomore American Sign Language (ASL) class for the first time, I had no idea that ASL would change my life so much. Middle school was a very rough and depressing time for me and I couldn’t communicate with my friends very well. Many times I felt left out and sad. But, I discovered that sign language could help me with spoken communication as well as visual communication.
As I went to class and became involved with my high school ASL Club, I began to make connections in my head that sign language could help me through my shyness and my trouble with speaking to other students. I started to enjoy ASL more and more and began to talk with other students and make friends easier. I began to excel at this exciting new language and become more confident. I loved ASL! It helped me speak and interact with the other kids a lot easier! This was wonderful!
I became the ASL Club Historian my junior year in high school and I am now the club President for 2015-2016. Because of this opportunity to learn sign language, I figured out that I needed visual communication to improve my spoken interaction with my peers. I have loved this new discovery and am incredibly thankful that I found my passion and happiness in my life. I have climbed out of my depression and have helped other students find the joy of American Sign Language and its importance in socially challenged students.
Now I am excited to go to school because I get to go to my sign language class and learn new signs. I have found that it’s easy to talk to other students and that I enjoy it. Many people my age have been affected by American Sign Language and have improved in several aspects of their lives. I have seen it. Because of the club, classes, and amazing teachers, countless students’ lives have been enhanced. I have been expanding that remarkable knowledge of learning and interaction through visual communication. I would also like to pass this awareness on to everyone I meet because it has helped me so much with my challenges.
Throughout my hardships, American Sign Language has given me new hope in my life. It has given me something to look forward to for college and an exciting career of helping others. I am forever grateful for the amazing events in my life that have led up to where I am today. Sign language can help everyone who struggles with shyness, awkwardness, or any other social challenge. I have overcome my social problems and have come to understand that everyone can. I love ASL and its wonderful power to change lives. I will always be thankful for the amazing opportunity I had to take an American Sign Language class at my high school and how it opened up a whole new world for me in so many unexpected, yet brilliant ways.