Personal Narrative: Finding My Identity

A significant challenge is that I have faced is finding my own identity and to choose what I want in life. There are million ways to learn about myself from going through the process of becoming who I want to be. I was born deaf, my family thought that I was hearing until the age of two. At the time, my parents decided to take up American Sign Language classes to learn to communicate with me. Until the age of six, I received a Cochlear Implant. During that time, I went to a mainstream school, where I stopped signing. After all the years have passed by, I heard that there was a Deaf program at Camden County College where they provide deaf services there. After two short years since I went to CCC, I participate the Deaf events such as Deaf Night
Out, Deaf Social Mall Chat, Deaf clubs, and many more. I have met so many people which I felt like I already knew them. It’s amazing on how using American Sign Language made things easier to interact than talking. I knew on how I missed out a lot in life and Deaf community until a year ago. Today, I finally discovered on how I wanted to be part of the Deaf community, events, etc. I have felt more comfortable signing than talking. It’s a lot harder for my family because I rarely talk as often as I usually do. But, on the bright side is that I can finally focus on myself, where I’ll know what’s the best for me and my future. After discovering myself in the center of the Deaf world, I was able to learn many things that I could overcome. In the end of the day, I know that I’ll have to work twice as hard in the hearing world. For all that matters to me is to take my time to challenge the new things about, love, history, and its perspectives in the Deaf community.