Biggest Challenge Essay Contest
Commendables

John McGinty

By John P. McGinty
Clarke School for the Deaf
Northampton, Massachusetts

When I went to my old school, I was facing my first project: to write a story. My father read it and said, "What? You better do it again." I felt angry, upset, and frustrated.

My parents put me in Clarke School because they want me to have better language. I want better language for my parents and myself. I was nervous about making friends, and worried that the teachers would be mean and give me a lot of homework. My teacher, Mrs. Findlay, helps me to improve my language--and I work strenuously. One day, Mrs. Findlay gave me notes for my parents. I got really scared because I thought it could be bad news about me. I asked Mrs. Findlay, "Is the note bad?" I was shaking. Mrs. Findlay said, "No, it is just to show how well you are doing."

When my mom and dad read the letters, they were joyful.

Chris Argentina

By Chris Argentina
Rhinebeck High
Rhinebeck, New York

There I was, running toward home base wearing a dirty pinstriped uniform, watching the crowd go wild. The smell of hotdogs and freshly cut grass were in the air. Poof…my dream is shattered. I am sitting on a bench watching my Varsity baseball team playing a game. I hate this position: benchwarmer.

Why am I sitting on the bench? I really can hear a lot with my hearing aid. I tried to teach my coaches some sign language. Lucky for me, I have a best friend who helps me. However, the other teammates made me feel inferior. I was so frustrated that I almost quit. But I knew if I quit, I would lose my chance.

Suddenly my name was announced for the starting lineup. I took my position playing second base. I was nervous because I didn't want to mess up the game. The bat cracked, my eyes popped out, and suddenly there it was, heading toward my left side. I dove to stop the ball and threw it to the shortstop, who threw the runner out at first base. I'll never forget when the umpire screamed, "Out!" It was the first double play of the season.

Sisakoth Chhun

By Siskoth Chun
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Children learn to communicate by talking with their parents. But what about when a child's parents don't speak English and the child has a hearing loss? That's the story of my life…Ever since I was born, my mom has spoken Cambodian with me. I understood her sometimes. I began to learn sign language when I was three or four years old. I know my mom loves me, but I can't communicate with her. My mom and I feel disappointed, but we don't share our feelings with each other.

My sisters sometimes interpret for my mom and me. I would like to talk with my mother alone sometimes. One day, my mom and I were alone with the babies sleeping. I asked my mother why I couldn't speak Cambodian. I should be able to learn the Cambodian language because I was good at foreign languages at school. My mom said she was trying to speak easy Cambodian with me and that I had learned some.

In the future, I hope my mother and I can talk with each other better.

Ariane Robertson

By Ariane Robertson
North Carolina School for the Deaf
Morgantown, North Carolina

Every morning, I got up and watched my brothers get ready to go to private school. I wanted to be the same as them. But Australia, where I grew up and lived for my whole life, doesn't have a private school that suits my deafness. I told my mother I loved my parents so much, but I really wanted to get away for a while. I wanted to join an exchange program and come to the U.S.A. It took me months to convince my parents to let me go.

Becoming an exchange student was the toughest job--it took me a lot time to plan everything. There was a three-hour interview, and a one-year wait. When I arrived at the airport, I met so many other exchange students from all over Australia. We all flew to America in one big plane. To my surprise, I found that I was the only exchange student who was deaf.

When I arrived in America, I was 15 years old. I am 16 now. Everything was new and I was on my very own. I stay with my host family in Greensboro during weekends and school holidays. I've learned to grow, to understand, and to be a mature person. I want to say how grateful I am to my family for letting go.

Erica Hossler

By Erica Hossler
Indiana School for the Deaf
Indianapolis, Indiana

Last summer I went to volleyball camp. On the second day, the staff put up a list dividing the campers between Varsity and Junior Varsity players. I was Junior Varsity. As we started to play, I began to feel frustrated. I wanted to move up to Varsity, but I couldn't. I was angry, and gave players and staff bad looks. When players made mistakes, I gave them bad looks. When I made mistakes, I gave myself bad looks. The reason I came to the camp was for the challenge and there was none.

One night, I was in a very bad mood. Suddenly a staff member came up to me. She said, "I want to talk with you in private." We went out of the gym, and she asked what was wrong with me. I told her, "Honestly, I feel frustrated because I feel NO challenges." She said, "I know. I can see it in your eyes."

Then she said, "If you have no challenges, be a role model to others. That will be a challenge." I realized that I had been awful to give other players dirty looks. "You are right," I said. She gave me a hug and she took me back to the gym.

I smiled at the players and we started playing. When the other players made a mistake, I helped them. When I made a mistake, they helped me. The bad feeling disappeared.

Jim Crane

By Jim Crane
Bexley Junior High
Bexley, Ohio

I don't think that being deaf is my biggest challenge as much as it is facing other people's ideas of what deaf means. Every day, I feel that I break people's preconceptions about deafness.

Being deaf is a gift from God. Here I am, proud of being deaf. I have so many friends to communicate with. I play a lot of sports, and I do well in school. I mean that I'm okay with being deaf. I don't think hearing people are as educated about deafness as they should be. I can give many examples of how deaf people are just like them. I play many team sports with all hearing people. I have a 3.4 grade point average in my mainstream school. I belong to the Leadership Group in my school. I have many friends, both deaf and hearing. I have a family that is loving and affectionate. My parents know sign language, and my older sister is deaf, too.

There are days that I am frustrated, but I will continue to educate hearing people about deafness and set a good example of how I live my life. I plan to make the most of life every day.