Senior Yearbook Quote by Samantha

Senior Yearbook Quote by Samantha - November 2018 Scholarship Essay

Marlee Matlin once said, “I hope I inspire people who are hearing. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.” This would be my choice for my senior yearbook quote. Since Marlee Matlin is the only deaf performer to have won an Academy Award, I am inspired by her and I want to be an inspiration to others.
I have been deaf since birth and had surgeries on both ears to correct and improve my ability to hear. I have faced challenges like bullying and being the only deaf student in my school, but it has only made me stronger. That is why Marlee Matlin’s quote motivates me. I influence hearing people to support Deaf community by learning sign language. For example, my best friend knows a good amount of sign language and wants to be an interpreter. She told me that when she first met me, which was two or three years ago, she was happy to be friends with me. She also got to learn sign language from me, and she thanked God for our friendship. I have other friends who want to be involved with me and with the Deaf community. One of my friends told me that he wanted to learn sign language after watching a movie called “Koe No Katachi”, which translate into “A Silent Voice”. It is a Japanese Teen Drama anime about a deaf girl looking for friendship while dealing with bullying. This movie encourages my friend to learn sign language and not let the bullying happen to other deaf students. This makes me think the Deaf community is the one to inspire hearing people.
The hearing people could help break down the barrier that prevents deaf people from achieving their dreams. In my opinion, I think hearing people would get so much benefit from helping. However, it makes me think if hearing people have inspired deaf people or the community before. All I have seen is mostly deaf people have been inspiring the hearing people, but I know there are a lot of ways to impress other people. I know for a fact that deaf people have struggles in the real world because most jobs require hearing. For example, there is a new business called Deaf Starbucks that just opened in Washington D.C., which is a deaf friendly environment. There are deaf and hearing people working together. I heard that the staff and the customers like it there. They are having fun talking to people in sign language and seeing their expressions to new signs. It makes the Deaf community feel like they are involved in the hearing world, where everyone wants to learn sign language from them. Making new friends who are willing to learn sign language for me and helping each other makes me want to be an inspiration for others in order for them to inspire others.