LIFE’S CIRCLES
We were all standing in a circle of new faces. Some were more nervous, and others more excited. The common factor was that this was the beginning of a new adventure for us all. In a few months, we’d be attending college together.
We were about to be led through a series of ice-breaker exercises. “Find someone with the same color eyes as you have, and tell them something interesting about yourself,” announced the leader over a microphone. I walked up to a green-eyed Devin and introduced myself. “My parents are deaf, “ I said. He looked at me in shock, only replying with “Wow.” I smiled softly, hoping to give him the impression that it was okay for him to be curious, and followed jokingly with, “I’d like to see you top that!” He racked his brain for a minute, and came up with something along the lines of liking to play volleyball. I smiled again and we talked a while, but not once during our conversation did we discuss my Deaf parents.
Devin and I had nice conversation, but it was another one of those moments that brought me back to a feeling from my past. I realized that even though there has been a lot of progress made over the years in educating others about the Deaf and their culture, there are still people who are afraid to talk to me about my parents because they are Deaf. It’s as if they’re afraid to offend me. I wanted Devin to be curious, and I challenged him when I walked up to him. I’m proud of my parents and I want people to know the fact my parents are Deaf is interesting.
Devin and I will both be studying Recreation Administration in the fall. It is a field that encompasses a wide-range of concentrations such as Natural Resource Interpretation, Special Event Management and Commercial Tourism. Regardless of what specialty one chooses, he/she will be working with many different kinds of people, facilitating their interactions with one another and their recreational environment.
Specifically, I will be concentrating in Event Management, and hope to run a consulting firm that arranges special events, conferences, retreats and corporate challenges. I chose this field because it is so widely varied, and it gives me the opportunity to meet thousands of interesting people in countless exciting and adventurous settings.
A huge part of my personality has been carved from my experiences with the Deaf culture. It is one of the most supportive, optimistic, life-loving groups I’ve ever had the pleasure to interact with. With all of the challenges my Deaf parents, aunts, uncles and friends have had to face in making their way through this sometimes ignorant world, they never seem to loose their faith in life. No matter the obstacle, they pull together with pride and simply carry on. This concept is the basis of success in many recreational group activities.
As I make my way through life, I want those I come in contact with to realize that diversity in and of itself is not negative. It is our fearful and sympathetic attitudes toward each other’s differences that are so destructive. Uniformity would make our world monotonous and unappealing. Variation is the spice of life!
I’m not sure why Devin chose Recreation Administration as his field of study, but I hope that as he makes his way through life, he’ll realize that many of the people he comes across are going to have something different, but nonetheless interesting to share. I’m sure I’ll encounter many more Devins as I make my way though life. Hopefully, as I get to know them, they’ll get to know me and what has motivated me to become the person I am. This motivation – my philosophy of embracing diversity rather than shunning it – has been inspired by my parents and the experiences of growing up in both the Deaf and Hearing worlds.
Ms. Coleman is currently attending Santa Barbara City College and she is on the President’s honor roll. While working full time she carries a full load at Santa Barbara City College and has maintained a 3.6 GPA. Ms Coleman received extremely glowing support from those with whom she works. In addition to attending school she assists in the ASL classes when needed. In her spare time she volunteers in fundraising activities for the local public school. Finally, in addition to being a college student, Candace manages an office for four architects. She is an exemplary example of how hard a Coda works to reach the desired goals in life.
