Plum blossom trees are important in Chinese culture because they bloom through cold winters, symbolizing perseverance. Throughout my childhood, perseverance has played a huge role in my story.
Help America Hear Through Scholarships
The scholarship program is an annual nationwide contest offering assistance to high school seniors with hearing loss who are starting their first year of college.
A Perpetual Disconnect Online
The COVID-19 mandated transition to online learning has not been easy for most students, whether in elementary school, high school, or university. I am a college sophomore and the experience has been disruptive. Campus life is imperative to most university students, and a global health crisis means that university life has been put on hold.
No Excuses
Around the age of 3 and a half, my parents started noticing that I was always turning my right ear to the person speaking. Something wasn’t right. I was not reacting to sounds the way the typical hearing child should. My parents took me to my pediatrician who referred us to an audiologist. On September 28, 2000, at age 4, I was diagnosed with bilateral moderate-severe sensorineural hearing loss and immediately fitted with hearing aids.
Hearing Loss to Hearing Recovery: My Detour-Filled Journey
No one anticipates a life-altering experience when you’re a college student living a seemingly carefree life with minimal interruptions, enjoying your youth, and spending most mornings sleeping in and watching SportsCenter. This is the typical college student life I envisioned, but it wasn’t the one I lived.