The Impact of My Coda Experience
1978 Phone Conversation
Me: Hello?
Caller: Hi there, is your mom or dad home?
Me: Yes, they are. They are deaf, so can I relay them a message?
Caller: Oh!! No. That’s okay. I can just call back later.
Me: But. But…they will still be deaf later…
Click … caller hangs up.
Ever since I began receiving that typical caller response as a young child, I began to realize the struggles that my parents would have to face in an often ignorant hearing society. Growing up, I was what my parents called their “ears.” I answered the phone, the door, warned them of certain sounds, accompanied them in meetings when interpreters were not legally required, etc. Any discrimination they had to face sometimes had to go through me first. I was the one who had to inform them, that, yes, the call was for them, but the caller did not want to speak with them once they were informed of their deafness. I always cringed in sadness at the look of disgust and disappointment in my parents’ faces after my response. However, they always managed to remain chin up and optimistic that the bad seeds of society will somehow be educated of their ignorance.
As the child of deaf parents, I have been able to understand the discrimination so called “different” groups face. This understanding has impacted my life tremendously in my work, education, and career choices. My parents strong determination and persistence has influenced me to accomplish what i want regardless of the barriers I might face. Much of what I strive to accomplish with my goals in life is to educate those ignorant bad seeds, no matter what prejudice they hold. Most important, my parents have given me the gift of a different culture and language. It has sparked a curiosity and yearning for understanding diversity in other cultures on a daily basis. It has developed my interest in other languages, cultural understanding through art, and the powerful medium of film to create a positive, insightful, influential message.
I have chosen Art History as a major at the University of Maryland. Art History incorporates abstract visual thinking, intensive writing, art, and the history of many cultures all into one major. I will also hold a concentration in Journalism and Italian. With the undergraduate skills I develop I plan to go to film school.
Next year, I am participating in an exchange through the University of Maryland with an Art Institute in Florence, Italy. Traveling and learning about other cultures is something I believe is vital to a complete education. The diversity of cultures needs to be better understood and explored in our society. The Florence exchange, similarly, will allow me to experience a new and different culture while meeting new people and continuing my studies in Art History and Italian. At the University of Maryland, I work as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, teaching English to international students. This too has taught me about other cultures and more about my own through my students differing cultural experiences and views. As their teacher and friend, I also strive to erase the stereotypes and barriers that foreigners place on Americans and vice-versa to make my students transition to living in America a positive experience.
Pursuing my interest in film making is my ultimate aspiration. Film is a career field unfortunately dominated by men. I plan to help break these barriers to convey my own ideas and opinions through film. I am currently a part of a nationwide project, funded by the Ford Foundation, in which ten universities across the nation are compiling their video documentaries on -isms (such as racism, sexism, etc.) for a nationwide broadcast next year. My first documentary was on abuse towards women and children. At the University of Maryland I am part of the Women’s Circle, a forum for discussing our feelings as women and acting rationally and organized upon them. Right now, I am part of the film committee that is organizing a month-long Women’s Film Festival to recognize the film works of women producers, directors, and actresses. I am currently doing an internship with the Head of Human Services, Dr. Gladys Brown, who runs all the Diversity Programs on campus. The internship has helped me learn about diversity, as well as develop public relations and advertising skills.
My success as a woman, depends on breaking the barriers with confidence that have so long marginalized us from many career choices. I have already started to battle these barriers. With my educational background and experience with cultural diversity, I plan to fight my way to success in the film industry making it easier for other women to do the same. What I have gained from my parents attitudes and my experience with deaf culture impacts every step of my life. I am so ever grateful for the experience I have had as a CODA individual.
Jennifer is from Boxboro, Massachusetts and is currently a sophomore at the University of Maryland in College Park. She maintains an A average in the honors program and has received an award for student leadership. She is a participant in a number of volunteer organizations, is a member of a variety of clubs, and is treasurer of the National Honor Society on campus. Her interest is in films and documentaries as her essay demonstrates. She has worked as a teacher of English as a second language and is a representative in student government. We congratulate Jennifer for her hard work and success in school.
