The Deaf: An Eye Opener

      
        On June 15, 2013 we went to a fund-raising campaign and awarding of scholarships to deserving students by High Bridge Foundation, Inc. held in Gallaudet University, Washington DC.

      Since Gallaudet was mentioned by Indi Robinson,  a fellow poet here, I became curious about it, and did a little research. Gallaudet University is a federally chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing located in Washington, DC. It was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard of hearing in the world, and is still the only higher education institution in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate the deaf and hard of hearing students.

      We arrived early and was greeted and led to our table by Mrs. Mencie Hairston, the wife of Dr. Ernest Hairston, and a friend of my fiancee. Dr. and Mrs. Hairston have been life-long volunteers and supporters of programs that benefit underserved population of young people: new immigrants, adoptees, the disabled and those needing financial assistance to pursue higher education.

      Dr. and Mrs. Hairston established High Bridge Foundation, Inc. last year, 2012 as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization to reach, connect,serve and empower young people from underserved communities so they may achieve their full potential and become contributing members of society.

      There was deafening silence across the room before the program started. Then guests in the next table to us started communicating, but it's still silent, as they were talking in sign language. What amazed me was that they were talking like normal people with no hearing deficiencies. I could tell that they are more fluent in English than the other guests in my table who were talking to each other with our native accent.

      When they called the President of Gallaudet University, Dr. Alan Hurwitz for the welcome remarks, the more I got astounded. He delivered the welcoming remarks using sign language! I couldn't believe that the university president himself was deaf. My astonishment did not stop there. When it was the scholarship foundation founder's turn to speak, the more I was surprised because he himself was deaf and delivered his speech using sign language. I was introduced to him earlier and didn't recognize that he has any disability at all.
 
      I was compelled to write this short story so I may share with you especially those who are alcoholics, drug addicts (or can't resist drugs), wrist-cutters or whatever you feel and think you are at the moment, about a very important moral lesson: never give up and lose hope. Despite their disabilities, the people I mentioned above are good examples of how good life is, if you steer it towards a productive and meaningful endeavor. Don't let your current setback hold you back. Get up and try to make the first step--seek help. And last but not the least, keep on writing my friends, if only in writing you find solace and peace of mind.