Donna Mcdonald's The Art Of Being Deaf: A Memoir

Last semester, in American Sign Language 2010, my class got assigned a book report project. I with two other partners, choose a book entitled “The Art of Being Deaf: A Memoir,” by Donna McDonald. My professor told us we were to pick one quote from the entire book that stood out to us. I chose an excerpt from the end of the book, on the grounds that, it was the section that focused on reflection and understanding. The excerpt goes “My life had been pitted here with deep sadness and lifted there with joy, but it had been mostly held stable by the grist of daily routines.”
During the fall semester of 2015, I felt like I was not progressing as well as I knew I could. I fell into the rhythm of waking up and going to class during the week, similar to the daily routines McDonald fell into. On the weekends, I fell into the habit of going to work and then going to sleep without being my natural, productive self. I spoke with a close friend of mine and told her how I was feeling and she gave me valuable advice. She told me to find out what I was passionate about, start narrow and work my way up to my larger goals. I then understood that I am one student in a school of over 10,000 people, but I
Talking to my mother even solidified this for me, she spoke to me about how we would never have total advancement until everyone joins in and does their part. When I receive my admission into The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, I will focus on Advocacy because, in the Black Community, if we do not collectively fight for one another then who will? No to mention, there is so much progression that is needed in the United States. There is a continuous lack of outward expression in support for minorities. I am willing to take the time and effort to become an advocate for not only my community, but other communities that have been overlooked as