My Journey With Hearing Loss

by My Flow

                             

Recently a student in the HES program sat down to answer some questions about hearing loss, FMs and her future plans.

Q – How did you feel when you found out that you had a hearing loss?

A – I felt like I didn’t know what happened to me.  I was six years old.  I found  out by going to a place with my mom to check my hearing.

Q – What made your family think that you needed to have your hearing checked?

A – My family members noticed that I seemed to miss things that they said.

Q – How did you feel when you started to wear hearing aids?

A – I felt shy when I started to use hearing aids.  Others kids were like , “What’s that in your ear?” and they were staring at me and I didn’t like it.  I told them, "It’s  a hearing aid to help me hear and they said, “Are you deaf?”  I said, “No, but I can’t hear  well.”

Q – What did you think of the FM unit when you got it to use in school?

A – I felt embarrassed, like I didn’t want to use it.  Other kids were asking, “What’s that?”  I told them it’s a microphone for the teacher to speak into so I could hear what she’s saying.

Q- Are you still using the FM equipment?

A – No, I don’t use it because I feel that I get everything the teacher says. If teachers turn their back on me, she or he will write the information down or others might ask what he or she said.  If I still don’t understand, then I will ask.

Q – What advice would you give to kids who are just finding out that they have a hearing loss?

A – I’ll tell them, “Don’t worry, things will get better cause people will get used to it.”

Q- What are your future plans?

A-My future plans are to become a basketball player in high school and college.  After that I would like to pursue a career in acting and dancing.

Advice for Freshmen!

Advice to a New Freshman

by Tewwey Lovestone

Now that I am a senior, I’ve been looking back to my first days as a high school student. I remember the advice people gave me – and I wish I would have listened. So now here is the advice I would give to kids preparing for high school and who will be freshman in the fall.

1. Do as you’re told! In junior high school I always went to class. But when I got to high school, there was so much going on that it was more fun not to go to class.

Also, in junior high school all the classes were fun because you’re younger. In high school the work is a lot harder. What you find out is that if you don’t go to class, the work doesn’t get any easier. Even though going to class seemed boring, I’ve learned that in the long run that’s what puts the 90 on your report card.

2. Find the right company! In high school you’re going to find a much more diverse atmosphere. Different people with many different ideas thoughts and lifestyles are in high school. It would be easy for you to end up with the wrong group of people that might bring you down the wrong path at this fresh and early stage. Try your best to click with the people who are striving for the same things or better things than you are

3. Ask questions! For example, if the teacher is teaching something and you don’t understand, ask the teacher to explain to you what you don’t understand. If the explanation isn’t enough, don’t be afraid to ask again. The teachers’ job is to teach you so you should take advantage of it. Besides, asking questions will also help you with homework. You won’t have to go home struggling to do homework if you ask the teacher to explain what’s being taught.

4. Your guidance counselor is your best friend! He /she will be the one to guide you through the high school maze as smoothly as possible. Being close to your guidance counselor will open up doors for you. Your guidance counselor will make sure that certain students have your back and that all is well with your education.

I have honestly not followed all of these steps in the beginning but I wish I had. I would have done 80% more work and I would have been 100% more successful. As a senior I am paying for my slacking off now. I’m finally getting the grades I want. All that you do over the years will catch up with you. Do your best to do the right things while you have the opportunity to.