Essay Winners

Living with Usher’s,
Accepting Who You are

By Kevlasha Humphrey
Illinois School for the Deaf
Jacksonville, Illinois

She, a deaf girl, was born in Quincy, Illinois and began life in a small town called LaGrange, Missouri. At nine-years-old, she found out that she had Usher syndrome.
Being deaf means she just can’t hear and she learns to communicate with her hands. But what does Usher syndrome mean? She does not accept Usher syndrome. It means a disability.
As a freshman, she struggles to still fit in. In order to understand conversation, she socializes only one on one. If two or more are talking, she cannot keep up. Worse, when she asks people to repeat, they say “oh forget it.”
She feels left out then. Reminded of being different.
She starts to keep herself purposely isolated. She focuses on school work and tries to make it through each day.
As a sophomore, she tries to step out and advocate for herself. She asks teachers to remember to please sign within her visual field. She tries to figure out who is talking during class conversations. Sometimes she misses, teachers and students just tell her to pay attention. Those words, “pay attention,” go through her with so much anger and pain.
Her junior year, she tells her mother she can’t suffer another day at school. She feels the public school will be less stress because she will work one-on-one with an interpreter. For a moment, her mom is without words. Then through tears she tells her yes, she can go to public school.
The news spreads, the newspaper comes. The interview impresses many people.
Second semester of her junior year, she is going to both schools. Her mom pairs her up with a deaf adult, Mindy Mayer, who also has Usher Syndrome. Mindy, who established the American Association for Deaf/Blind [local?], sets up a presentation for the students and staff about Usher syndrome. Many began to understand and become more caring. One friend says, “wow, I didn’t realize all you have suffered.”
The end of junior year was wonderful. She was attending both schools and getting great support.
In her senior year, her mother reached out to the Helen Keller National Center and she goes to stay there for two weeks. She meets other deaf people with visual problems, including many who have Usher syndrome. Stephanie J., a positive loving and successful person who has her own business, became a mentor to her.
One day she asked Stephanie, “Do you like having Usher syndrome?” Stephanie answered, “No, but I accept who I am.” This answer, unexpected, changed her life.
Now she is 17 years old. She uses a cane, one of many accommodations. She socializes more and learns who are true friends. She is still learning to accept who she is. Many people say she is sweet, smart, friendly, mature, and beautiful. She has learned she can be proud.
As she approaches 2007 and graduation, she is a student at both a school for the deaf and a public school. She is grabbing the gold. And she is me.

Bonding with Others,
Discovering Self

By Shara Winesburg
California School for the Deaf
Fremont, California

Although when you first hear the words, the first thought is usually something related to sports, going for the gold is a term that has the fire within it to inspire millions of people.
People never tell you to go for the silver because that would mean you were not putting your best work forward. That would mean it is okay to do something second rate.
To me, going for the gold means aspiring to give all you have, no matter how hard the obstacles. Scholars and athletes give their all every single day. They push themselves beyond their limits so they can say that they have truly done their best.
In the summer of 2005, I was a counselor in training at a camp for deaf campers, working with a group of 12-13 year old girls. The first few days were fun and I was starting to develop a bond with each of the girls.
Jenny, one of the most bright-eyed girls, cut her leg from falling off a post. I immediately ran to help her with the blood, but she pushed me away, a look of fear in her eyes. I thought that she was just uncomfortable with help, so I waited until she cleaned herself up then I asked her what the problem was.
What she told me remains forever in my head: “I have AIDS,” she said. I recoiled in horror. Then I stopped myself. This was my camper. She was under my care, and it was my responsibility to be a role model to her.
I lifted her head and told her that it was okay and I asked if she wouldn’t mind telling me what happened because I had never known anyone with AIDS before. She broke down in tears and said that she wasn’t a lab rat to be studied, she was a person like anyone else. Besides having AIDS and being deaf, nothing was going to stop her from being normal. From the second she said those words, I was in awe. She was right.

Loving Horses
A Gold Not Found in Any Medal

By Gina De Naples
Ragsdale High School
Jamestown, North Carolina

People automatically think that the phrase going for the gold referst winning an Olympic gold medal. However only a small percentage of athletes are good enough to make it to the Olympics.
For most people, the Olympics are just a dream. They find other ways of going for the gold in their lives—becoming valedictorians of their graduation classes, getting their drivers’ licenses, and getting good-paying jobs. I believe my goals are a bit different.
I ride horses competitively.
I’ve won multiple championships. Yet the most important thing to me is not ribbons—it is a horse’s love. I am one of a handful of deaf people who ride horses competitively. I always get the terrified inexperienced horses. I take my time with them, convince them that the world isn’t out to kill t hem, then train by riding them. When they are good enough, I take the horses to competitions. I ride dressage which is equivalent to dancing with horses.
When I started seriously shiowing my rescued horse, people told me that I wouldn’t pin in the top five, because I couldn’t hear the announcer telling when to change gaits. But time and again we ended in the top finve and even led the top spot for year end awards.
Nor I’m working with a six-year-old thoroughbred, Bucky. When I first got him, Bucky was obese and couldn’t focus for more than a minute at a time. I made him lose the excess weight first and then built up and toned his muscles. After six months, he is trim, fit, and learning to do moves that are advanced for his age. W will debut at the Region One competitions across North Carolina and Virginia. Our goal is the United States Dressage Federation finals!
However competing isn’t important to me. Ribbons? Money? The championship? I don’t care. What matters to me is the trust and love of the horses I work with. That’s worth more than an Olympic gold medal.



HM
Achieving High Grades, Bowling, Boxing,
Having Integrity—and Being Deaf/Blind

By Jon Gabry
Mountain Lakes High School
Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

Every day, I go for the gold—at home, at school, and in my community. I am a deafblind person. I read Braille books and I communicate using tactile sign language. Because of this, it takes longer for me to understand the information that teachers present in school. I have to work very hard and long at home because I need to reread all my notes, textbooks, and homework carefully. I am proud that I have a 3.938 grade point average in my high school.
People think that deafblind people can’t do sports. Wrong! I bowl, golf, and box. I have been rock climbing since I was 12 years old. I am the only deaf, blind, or deafblind person in the rock climbing club in my school. I work out with my trainer every week. He urges me to walk up and down half-mile hills—about four or five steep hills every time we work out. I carry 20 pounds of water in my backpack when I do this and it makes me tired. But, wow, I feel strong.
Why do I go for the gold? It makes me true t o myself because I know that it is the right thing to do. It makes me honest because I know what I need to succeed. It makes me strong in mind and in body. It gives me integrity.
When I have truth, honesty, strength, and integrity, then I have the confidance to help other people go for the gold themselves. I talk to medical students, college students, sign language students, and parents of deafblind kids about my life.
Going for the gold means doing my very best. I need to do my best to be a good person—student, friend, son, and athlete. I compete with myself. I don’t compare myself to other people. I am willing to work very hard. When I do my best, I feel proud, confident, and just plain good about myself.
Going for the gold has shaped me and helped me develop the skills to be a successful person. All my life, my parents and good people I know have pushed me to go for the gold, but now it is time for me to go for the gold myself. I hope that inspire you to go for the gold in your life.