Styling Her Way to Success

By Michael Walton

Merlina Havic is the first deaf student of cosmetology at the Stewart School in South Dakota. She was born in Croatia. When civil war broke out there in the 1990s, her family fled to Germany, but Havic stayed behind. She continued to attend a deaf school in Bosnia under the care of her foster parents.

Later, the United Nations reunited Havic and her family, and they decided to come to America. They moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Havic continued her studies at South Dakota School for the Deaf. Her mother and father got jobs in Sioux Falls, and her brother attended a local school there.

At first, it was very difficult for Havic and her family to adjust to their new life in America. Havic’s family spoke their native language—Bosnian—and they were also fluent in German. The family eventually learned how to speak and write English. In addition to Bosnian, German, and English, Merlina also learned how to communicate in American Sign Language.

Havic is determined to succeed in her studies and receive her cosmetology degree. A hearing friend of Havic’s, Lois Wiskur, a hairstylist for 40 years, recently watched Havic as she styled and highlighted a customer’s hair at the Stewart School. “Merlina…can get by pretty well,” said Wiskur. “The skill of a hairstylist is in the hands. It’s not by how well you can hear.”

“I know I can do this kind of work,” said Havic. “I love this job.”

- Information from The Argus Leader

Other News Stories in This Issue:

Bridging the Communication Gap
No Errors in Their Comedy (Shakespeare)