Ask Anna: What is a Roger Pen and how does it work?
October 3, 2017
How I changed my attitude about hearing loss
October 4, 2017“How can you survive college? You’re deaf!”
“How are you going to survive college?” is one of the many questions my friends asked me as my last year of high school came to a close.
I laughed it off, knowing they didn’t mean any harm.
But even though they didn’t intentionally insult me, it still made me doubt my abilities. I’d gotten through high school intact, but college is completely different; an entire new set of challenges I’d have to overcome.
You may have to deal with people in your life doubting you, whether it be because of college or some other reason. But I’ve found that the best way to deal with this is to realize only you know what you can and can’t do.
If I kept letting peoples doubts about my ability to succeed get to me, their opinions would eventually overtake my own opinions. And that’s a terrible situation.
“If I kept letting peoples doubts about my ability to succeed get to me, their opinions would eventually overtake my own opinions. And that’s a terrible situation.”
It’s difficult. I’ve had to teach myself over the years that I can never let my ambitions go, no matter what people say or think of me. But I still relapse, and the comments get to me.
Even if you aren’t the best at not letting people’s judgments of your abilities affect you, its OK. It’s impossible to be perfect.
As long as you make a continuous decision to acknowledge someones hurtful opinion rather than take it to heart and let it impact your performance, you’ll be just fine.
The Future
If you’re like me and heading off to college soon, good luck! It’s going to be an interesting road from here on out.
It may be a difficult and frustrating road at times- but I know we can do it.
So to the friend that asked me “how are you going to survive?” I don’t know how. All I know is that I’ll do it, and that’s just fine with me.
Heading to college with hearing loss
Here are a few resources for tips and inspiration to go back to school with hearing loss:
3 Tips for Deaf Teens Preparing for University
Studying with Hearing Loss: My Tips and Advice to Succeed in the Classroom
The IEP and Other Classroom Support
If you’re going to college/university soon, let me know how you’re coping in the comments! (Also, for those who will be starting their college search/applications soon, be strong, and good luck!)
