Deaf Education Personal Statement

To the East Carolina University Graduate Admission Board,
Five years ago I had my life figured out- I was going to be a high school math educator. After arriving at Radford University, I found my knack for American Sign Language, and I changed my major to Interdisciplinary Studies: Special Education with a concentration in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Curriculum. I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to experience four diverse educational settings during my student-teaching rotations. I worked in a variety of environments from an inner-city school to a wealthier state-funded institution.
My internships allowed for significant expansion in my understanding of deaf education, the Virginia Curriculum, but most of all it expanded my abilities in American Sign
This disconnect is what drives me towards becoming an Educational Audiologist. Spending time within the classroom getting to know Deaf Education on an organic level gave me a great understanding of the educational needs of a child with hearing loss. I want to work as an Audiologist with the understanding of not one, but both fields of expertise. Allowing me to provide students with hearing loss, and my peer professionals, the combined approach of Deaf Education and Audiology to implement the best approach towards learning and success.
During my internships, I was privileged to work with numerous students with varying degrees of hearing loss and social backgrounds. I have seen the obstacles that students with hearing loss face in educational environments. Working amongst a team of elite professionals in the field of Deaf Education, I was able to experience the significance of collaboration in this field. I have been a part of a collaborative team that was able to provide a student with the tools they needed to succeed, which was an exhilarating and profound experience for