hello I am here today to talk to you about living in the world of Union in
about living in the world of Union in
about living in the world of Union in February I was born in 1997 with fully
February I was born in 1997 with fully
February I was born in 1997 with fully functional hearing seven month later I
functional hearing seven month later I
functional hearing seven month later I was exposed to my first code which
was exposed to my first code which
was exposed to my first code which resulted in giving me extremely high
resulted in giving me extremely high
resulted in giving me extremely high fevers after numerous trips to the
fevers after numerous trips to the
fevers after numerous trips to the hospital the doctors called my parents
hospital the doctors called my parents
hospital the doctors called my parents and told them to get me to the hospital
and told them to get me to the hospital
and told them to get me to the hospital immediately when my parents were getting
immediately when my parents were getting
immediately when my parents were getting me ready to go to the hospital I was
me ready to go to the hospital I was
me ready to go to the hospital I was already having a seizure and in a
already having a seizure and in a
already having a seizure and in a lethargic state upon arrival at the
lethargic state upon arrival at the
lethargic state upon arrival at the hospital to talk to did a spinal tap on
hospital to talk to did a spinal tap on
hospital to talk to did a spinal tap on me only find that it was the color of
me only find that it was the color of
me only find that it was the color of milk which means the tested positive
milk which means the tested positive
milk which means the tested positive with pneumococcal bacterial meningitis
with pneumococcal bacterial meningitis
with pneumococcal bacterial meningitis the doctors told my parents that if they
the doctors told my parents that if they
the doctors told my parents that if they hadn’t brought me in that night I would
hadn’t brought me in that night I would
hadn’t brought me in that night I would only had about 8 to 12 hours left to
only had about 8 to 12 hours left to
only had about 8 to 12 hours left to live
after a few weeks of treatment I was
after a few weeks of treatment I was finally released to go home
finally released to go home
finally released to go home in a few days later my parents noticed I
in a few days later my parents noticed I
in a few days later my parents noticed I was unresponsive to any sound my dad
was unresponsive to any sound my dad
was unresponsive to any sound my dad would always come home and sneak in the
would always come home and sneak in the
would always come home and sneak in the house and she would say Michael daddy’s
house and she would say Michael daddy’s
house and she would say Michael daddy’s home when I would smile and called to
home when I would smile and called to
home when I would smile and called to him and this time there was no response
him and this time there was no response
him and this time there was no response on November 3rd the doctors have
on November 3rd the doctors have
on November 3rd the doctors have diagnosed me with severe to profound
diagnosed me with severe to profound
diagnosed me with severe to profound hearing loss and custom or if I’d ever
hearing loss and custom or if I’d ever
hearing loss and custom or if I’d ever hear again my parents wanted me to be
hear again my parents wanted me to be
hear again my parents wanted me to be able to learn to listen and to be able
able to learn to listen and to be able
able to learn to listen and to be able to learn I my first hearing aid pair of
to learn I my first hearing aid pair of
to learn I my first hearing aid pair of hearing aids at the age of 9 and a half
hearing aids at the age of 9 and a half
hearing aids at the age of 9 and a half months old and we have two further
months old and we have two further
months old and we have two further testing we found out that I’m completely
testing we found out that I’m completely
testing we found out that I’m completely deaf in my right ear so the question
deaf in my right ear so the question
deaf in my right ear so the question would be now what kind of sign language
would be now what kind of sign language
would be now what kind of sign language do I need to learn those two options
do I need to learn those two options
do I need to learn those two options that we found either American Sign
that we found either American Sign
that we found either American Sign Language which is reverse English so be
Language which is reverse English so be
Language which is reverse English so be to school we go or signing exact English
to school we go or signing exact English
to school we go or signing exact English it is we are going to school and my
it is we are going to school and my
it is we are going to school and my parents made it a priority that I would
parents made it a priority that I would
parents made it a priority that I would have an interpreter that would do
have an interpreter that would do
have an interpreter that would do signing exact English only first grade I
signing exact English only first grade I
signing exact English only first grade I received my first interpreter that did
received my first interpreter that did
received my first interpreter that did signing Zack Inglis she would be with me
signing Zack Inglis she would be with me
signing Zack Inglis she would be with me for all 12 years of school she is my
for all 12 years of school she is my
for all 12 years of school she is my advocate in school and she helped me
advocate in school and she helped me
advocate in school and she helped me learn my vocab and help me produce my
learn my vocab and help me produce my
learn my vocab and help me produce my speech
speech
speech we went through a lot of training 20
we went through a lot of training 20
we went through a lot of training 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in
minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in
minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon every day in first grade
the afternoon every day in first grade
the afternoon every day in first grade my reading level started at zero by the
my reading level started at zero by the
my reading level started at zero by the fifth grade I was in the top 50% after a
fifth grade I was in the top 50% after a
fifth grade I was in the top 50% after a while good to go beginning to fit well
while good to go beginning to fit well
while good to go beginning to fit well academically but socially not so much so
academically but socially not so much so
academically but socially not so much so what we did was make sure that
what we did was make sure that
what we did was make sure that communication with the teachers and
communication with the teachers and
communication with the teachers and students would be the next step in our
students would be the next step in our
students would be the next step in our progress
progress
progress so what mrs. Burch did would she would
so what mrs. Burch did would she would
so what mrs. Burch did would she would pull up a video and show it to the
pull up a video and show it to the
pull up a video and show it to the teachers and student and show the levels
teachers and student and show the levels
teachers and student and show the levels of what I can hear and after seeing that
of what I can hear and after seeing that
of what I can hear and after seeing that everybody truly realized how bad my
everybody truly realized how bad my
everybody truly realized how bad my hearing was and more people started
hearing was and more people started
hearing was and more people started taking an effort to communicate with me
taking an effort to communicate with me
taking an effort to communicate with me the bat was not my only struggle growing
the bat was not my only struggle growing
the bat was not my only struggle growing up I had no friends I I was bullied
up I had no friends I I was bullied
up I had no friends I I was bullied constantly by older kids drama people I
constantly by older kids drama people I
constantly by older kids drama people I could hang out with in grade school with
could hang out with in grade school with
could hang out with in grade school with my parents mrs. Burch my brother and
my parents mrs. Burch my brother and
my parents mrs. Burch my brother and some neighborhood friends I would want
some neighborhood friends I would want
some neighborhood friends I would want to hang out with me one time in fourth
to hang out with me one time in fourth
to hang out with me one time in fourth grade I was walking down the hallway
grade I was walking down the hallway
grade I was walking down the hallway with mrs. Burch and I looked up to her I
with mrs. Burch and I looked up to her I
with mrs. Burch and I looked up to her I said I’m not like the other kids am i
said I’m not like the other kids am i
said I’m not like the other kids am i she said no you’re not but you can be
she said no you’re not but you can be
she said no you’re not but you can be anything you want and we’re going to do
anything you want and we’re going to do
anything you want and we’re going to do this together
this together
this together took that knew pretty hard but from that
took that knew pretty hard but from that
took that knew pretty hard but from that point forward
point forward
point forward that’s when I began to accept Who I am
that’s when I began to accept Who I am
that’s when I began to accept Who I am and my disability as we go into middle
and my disability as we go into middle
and my disability as we go into middle school I became more involved with
school I became more involved with
school I became more involved with sports I was a three-sport athlete and
sports I was a three-sport athlete and
sports I was a three-sport athlete and football basketball and track my
football basketball and track my
football basketball and track my teammates soon began to realized that
teammates soon began to realized that
teammates soon began to realized that hey just because he’s deaf he didn’t
hey just because he’s deaf he didn’t
hey just because he’s deaf he didn’t mean he couldn’t do the things I could
mean he couldn’t do the things I could
mean he couldn’t do the things I could do my teammates started accepting me as
do my teammates started accepting me as
do my teammates started accepting me as a friend and as a teammate as well one
a friend and as a teammate as well one
a friend and as a teammate as well one of my best memories of making a friend
of my best memories of making a friend
of my best memories of making a friend was in seventh grade during a science
was in seventh grade during a science
was in seventh grade during a science class where we had to pick a partner and
class where we had to pick a partner and
class where we had to pick a partner and people is too hesitant about being my
people is too hesitant about being my
people is too hesitant about being my partner because I’m deaf and I think
partner because I’m deaf and I think
partner because I’m deaf and I think they were scared to try to communicate
they were scared to try to communicate
they were scared to try to communicate with me or just scared of not how to be
with me or just scared of not how to be
with me or just scared of not how to be around me and one of my football
around me and one of my football
around me and one of my football teammates
teammates
teammates raises his hand and says I want to be
raises his hand and says I want to be
raises his hand and says I want to be partnered with microbus to
partnered with microbus to
partnered with microbus to and I looked at mrs. Burch smiled and
and I looked at mrs. Burch smiled and
and I looked at mrs. Burch smiled and she she had to go outside in the hallway
she she had to go outside in the hallway
she she had to go outside in the hallway and take a moment this would be my first
and take a moment this would be my first
and take a moment this would be my first to partner that I’ve ever had my first
to partner that I’ve ever had my first
to partner that I’ve ever had my first friend after a while more friends
friend after a while more friends
friend after a while more friends started to come along quickly if you go
started to come along quickly if you go
started to come along quickly if you go into high school I was feeling good a
into high school I was feeling good a
into high school I was feeling good a good friend good people around me and
good friend good people around me and
good friend good people around me and I’m very excited for football
I’m very excited for football
I’m very excited for football I was also becoming more of an advocate
I was also becoming more of an advocate
I was also becoming more of an advocate for myself
for myself
for myself the need of mrs. Burch was starting to
the need of mrs. Burch was starting to
the need of mrs. Burch was starting to back off and she would begin just only
back off and she would begin just only
back off and she would begin just only help me fill in my notes do signing and
help me fill in my notes do signing and
help me fill in my notes do signing and [Music]
[Music]
[Music] reading lips so I did being an advocate
reading lips so I did being an advocate
reading lips so I did being an advocate for myself I had full responsibilities
for myself I had full responsibilities
for myself I had full responsibilities I’m making sure that I had to go I told
I’m making sure that I had to go I told
I’m making sure that I had to go I told the teacher where I needed to go sit how
the teacher where I needed to go sit how
the teacher where I needed to go sit how to communicate with me and making sure
to communicate with me and making sure
to communicate with me and making sure that they look at me while they talk as
that they look at me while they talk as
that they look at me while they talk as I approached my senior year I became
I approached my senior year I became
I approached my senior year I became more serious in academics and athletics
more serious in academics and athletics
more serious in academics and athletics I wanted to go to college so I knew that
I wanted to go to college so I knew that
I wanted to go to college so I knew that I had to work harder than I ever had
I had to work harder than I ever had
I had to work harder than I ever had before in order to get a good
before in order to get a good
before in order to get a good scholarship for academics and athletics
scholarship for academics and athletics
scholarship for academics and athletics I finished 17,000 hundred and seventy
I finished 17,000 hundred and seventy
I finished 17,000 hundred and seventy one students in my class one of the
one students in my class one of the
one students in my class one of the brightest classes to ever go through my
brightest classes to ever go through my
brightest classes to ever go through my high school I made National Honor
high school I made National Honor
high school I made National Honor Society and honor roll and I finished my
Society and honor roll and I finished my
Society and honor roll and I finished my senior year with the 4.1 GPA I was also
senior year with the 4.1 GPA I was also
senior year with the 4.1 GPA I was also an all-state football player then I was
an all-state football player then I was
an all-state football player then I was also asked to be red ribbon our speaker
also asked to be red ribbon our speaker
also asked to be red ribbon our speaker which is to advocate against bullying
which is to advocate against bullying
which is to advocate against bullying and to stand up for yourself and show
and to stand up for yourself and show
and to stand up for yourself and show that you do belong with the others
that you do belong with the others
that you do belong with the others you’re not you’re not obsolete from the
you’re not you’re not obsolete from the
you’re not you’re not obsolete from the others this to me showed that had an
others this to me showed that had an
others this to me showed that had an impact on the community and the ability
impact on the community and the ability
impact on the community and the ability to inspire everyone later on my senior
to inspire everyone later on my senior
to inspire everyone later on my senior year I signed my letter of intent to
year I signed my letter of intent to
year I signed my letter of intent to university meri to play football and
university meri to play football and
university meri to play football and study biology your honors going to
study biology your honors going to
study biology your honors going to Univision may have very very nervous I
Univision may have very very nervous I
Univision may have very very nervous I was all by myself I had no friends up
was all by myself I had no friends up
was all by myself I had no friends up here
here
here no family all
no family all
no family all new people and new culture and the
new people and new culture and the
new people and new culture and the reason I was nervous was because I was
reason I was nervous was because I was
reason I was nervous was because I was afraid I was gonna have to go to that
afraid I was gonna have to go to that
afraid I was gonna have to go to that entire process of making a friend again
entire process of making a friend again
entire process of making a friend again that I would have to you know I was
that I would have to you know I was
that I would have to you know I was afraid I was gonna be shy about
afraid I was gonna be shy about
afraid I was gonna be shy about machining or that they weren’t going to
machining or that they weren’t going to
machining or that they weren’t going to cept me because of my hearing but it
cept me because of my hearing but it
cept me because of my hearing but it barely took a day made my first friend
barely took a day made my first friend
barely took a day made my first friend and I learned that from the past is to
and I learned that from the past is to
and I learned that from the past is to be open and be myself around others and
be open and be myself around others and
be open and be myself around others and instead of letting my hanging take over
instead of letting my hanging take over
instead of letting my hanging take over I just let myself take over you move on
I just let myself take over you move on
I just let myself take over you move on to the education I decided not to have
to the education I decided not to have
to the education I decided not to have an interpreter for the University Mary I
an interpreter for the University Mary I
an interpreter for the University Mary I felt like I needed to take full
felt like I needed to take full
felt like I needed to take full responsibility for everything regarding
responsibility for everything regarding
responsibility for everything regarding my schooling so after doing some
my schooling so after doing some
my schooling so after doing some research with my mom we found that
research with my mom we found that
research with my mom we found that University may offered a closed
University may offered a closed
University may offered a closed captioning system it required that the
captioning system it required that the
captioning system it required that the professor would wear a microphone and
professor would wear a microphone and
professor would wear a microphone and I’d have a receiver that plugged into my
I’d have a receiver that plugged into my
I’d have a receiver that plugged into my laptop that sends the data to the people
laptop that sends the data to the people
laptop that sends the data to the people that hear the professor’s words this is
that hear the professor’s words this is
that hear the professor’s words this is very essential to me because without the
very essential to me because without the
very essential to me because without the closed captioning by system my notes
closed captioning by system my notes
closed captioning by system my notes would have a lot of blanks in them
would have a lot of blanks in them
would have a lot of blanks in them because when I write my notes I put my
because when I write my notes I put my
because when I write my notes I put my head down I immediately cannot hear the
head down I immediately cannot hear the
head down I immediately cannot hear the teacher I lose what they say and I lose
teacher I lose what they say and I lose
teacher I lose what they say and I lose track of what they’re saying and it
track of what they’re saying and it
track of what they’re saying and it fills in the blanks for me as we move on
fills in the blanks for me as we move on
fills in the blanks for me as we move on from education we go into sports sports
from education we go into sports sports
from education we go into sports sports was a way of life for me and the sport
was a way of life for me and the sport
was a way of life for me and the sport that had the most impact on me was
that had the most impact on me was
that had the most impact on me was football it showed me taught me a lot of
football it showed me taught me a lot of
football it showed me taught me a lot of who I am today and it showed that
who I am today and it showed that
who I am today and it showed that there’s a lot of ups and downs in life
there’s a lot of ups and downs in life
there’s a lot of ups and downs in life and how to get through them and the main
and how to get through them and the main
and how to get through them and the main thing is except it helped me accept Who
thing is except it helped me accept Who
thing is except it helped me accept Who I am my disability this is where I have
I am my disability this is where I have
I am my disability this is where I have people doubt me the most I have P
people doubt me the most I have P
people doubt me the most I have P parents come up to me and say oh you
parents come up to me and say oh you
parents come up to me and say oh you can’t play football you have a hearing
can’t play football you have a hearing
can’t play football you have a hearing aid in it in the fall out or you can’t
aid in it in the fall out or you can’t
aid in it in the fall out or you can’t hear anything at all I’ve also had
hear anything at all I’ve also had
hear anything at all I’ve also had parents say you’re never going to make
parents say you’re never going to make
parents say you’re never going to make it to the next level because coaches are
it to the next level because coaches are
it to the next level because coaches are not going to trust you hearing
not going to trust you hearing
not going to trust you hearing I’ve also had student players come up to
I’ve also had student players come up to
I’ve also had student players come up to me and say mock my hearing and taught me
me and say mock my hearing and taught me
me and say mock my hearing and taught me use all this emotion to motivate me to
use all this emotion to motivate me to
use all this emotion to motivate me to become a better version to myself a good
become a better version to myself a good
become a better version to myself a good teammate a good friend a good student
teammate a good friend a good student
teammate a good friend a good student good partner and a good son to my
good partner and a good son to my
good partner and a good son to my parents and because of that football
parents and because of that football
parents and because of that football helped me learn to love my life I have
helped me learn to love my life I have
helped me learn to love my life I have today so how is one that is deaf played
today so how is one that is deaf played
today so how is one that is deaf played the game of football well I have to work
the game of football well I have to work
the game of football well I have to work extra hard in order to react on time
extra hard in order to react on time
extra hard in order to react on time with the play I play with my eyes not my
with the play I play with my eyes not my
with the play I play with my eyes not my use and I make sure that all
use and I make sure that all
use and I make sure that all communication is clear between coaches
communication is clear between coaches
communication is clear between coaches and the players and also when I play I
and the players and also when I play I
and the players and also when I play I have to wear a sweatband in order to
have to wear a sweatband in order to
have to wear a sweatband in order to keep the hearing aid functioning
keep the hearing aid functioning
keep the hearing aid functioning properly one thing I’ve been really
properly one thing I’ve been really
properly one thing I’ve been really blessed with here at University Mary is
blessed with here at University Mary is
blessed with here at University Mary is that I’ve had great teammate and great
that I’ve had great teammate and great
that I’ve had great teammate and great classmates they all understand how my
classmates they all understand how my
classmates they all understand how my hanging works and how I function and how
hanging works and how I function and how
hanging works and how I function and how I communicate with them and because of
I communicate with them and because of
I communicate with them and because of that it made my transition from high
that it made my transition from high
that it made my transition from high school to call it much much easier my
school to call it much much easier my
school to call it much much easier my difference is for most people
difference is for most people
difference is for most people I guess student today is how mainly get
I guess student today is how mainly get
I guess student today is how mainly get up in the morning and how I prepare
up in the morning and how I prepare
up in the morning and how I prepare myself for the day I have to wake up to
myself for the day I have to wake up to
myself for the day I have to wake up to a large system that shakes my bed and I
a large system that shakes my bed and I
a large system that shakes my bed and I have to make sure I have fresh DNA
have to make sure I have fresh DNA
have to make sure I have fresh DNA batteries fresh DNA filters and make
batteries fresh DNA filters and make
batteries fresh DNA filters and make sure my closed captioning system is all
sure my closed captioning system is all
sure my closed captioning system is all ready to go for the class and I also
ready to go for the class and I also
ready to go for the class and I also have full responsibility making sure
have full responsibility making sure
have full responsibility making sure communication is clear between me and
communication is clear between me and
communication is clear between me and the person that will be talking to go
the person that will be talking to go
the person that will be talking to go through daily difficulties on basis
through daily difficulties on basis
through daily difficulties on basis daily basis is every morning I have
daily basis is every morning I have
daily basis is every morning I have every evening I have to set up my alarm
every evening I have to set up my alarm
every evening I have to set up my alarm system and make sure it works because
system and make sure it works because
system and make sure it works because the last thing I want to do is upset a
the last thing I want to do is upset a
the last thing I want to do is upset a coach or a teacher by being late and I
coach or a teacher by being late and I
coach or a teacher by being late and I deal with my hearing aid not working
deal with my hearing aid not working
deal with my hearing aid not working properly
properly
properly make either water gets in the tube and
make either water gets in the tube and
make either water gets in the tube and it won’t transmit the the sound to my
it won’t transmit the the sound to my
it won’t transmit the the sound to my ear where I have to deal with the
ear where I have to deal with the
ear where I have to deal with the crackling sound because sweat got inside
crackling sound because sweat got inside
crackling sound because sweat got inside the hearing aid the main thing I have to
the hearing aid the main thing I have to
the hearing aid the main thing I have to deal with is people still teasing me to
deal with is people still teasing me to
deal with is people still teasing me to this day yes I laugh at them sometimes
this day yes I laugh at them sometimes
this day yes I laugh at them sometimes it’s a joke but if it would come to
it’s a joke but if it would come to
it’s a joke but if it would come to repeated habit I’ll stand up to myself
repeated habit I’ll stand up to myself
repeated habit I’ll stand up to myself and tell them to please stop but on your
and tell them to please stop but on your
and tell them to please stop but on your opposite side it out I have many many
opposite side it out I have many many
opposite side it out I have many many people asking me how did you hear Nate
people asking me how did you hear Nate
people asking me how did you hear Nate work how do you how are you able to
work how do you how are you able to
work how do you how are you able to function and talk so well and to me it
function and talk so well and to me it
function and talk so well and to me it very inspiring that people are willing
very inspiring that people are willing
very inspiring that people are willing to ask these questions and I’m a very
to ask these questions and I’m a very
to ask these questions and I’m a very open person and I want people to know
open person and I want people to know
open person and I want people to know that having a disability doesn’t make
that having a disability doesn’t make
that having a disability doesn’t make you any less important than the other
you any less important than the other
you any less important than the other people around you when I think about my
people around you when I think about my
people around you when I think about my progress I’d made throughout my life I
progress I’d made throughout my life I
progress I’d made throughout my life I can’t help to thank my parents my
can’t help to thank my parents my
can’t help to thank my parents my grandparents my entire family for
grandparents my entire family for
grandparents my entire family for leaving and standing up for him they’ve
leaving and standing up for him they’ve
leaving and standing up for him they’ve helped me push push me beyond the norm
helped me push push me beyond the norm
helped me push push me beyond the norm of being the best student-athlete friend
of being the best student-athlete friend
of being the best student-athlete friend and person I can be and even before I
and person I can be and even before I
and person I can be and even before I could my parents decided that I would
could my parents decided that I would
could my parents decided that I would not live in the world of silence but
not live in the world of silence but
not live in the world of silence but fight to make sure that I could function
fight to make sure that I could function
fight to make sure that I could function in the hearing world each day my routine
in the hearing world each day my routine
in the hearing world each day my routine is different from those with normal
is different from those with normal
is different from those with normal hearing my communication style is still
hearing my communication style is still
hearing my communication style is still verbal however my listening human style
verbal however my listening human style
verbal however my listening human style will always be different I always
will always be different I always
will always be different I always continue to stay driven and passionate
continue to stay driven and passionate
continue to stay driven and passionate about my goals and the same that my dad
about my goals and the same that my dad
about my goals and the same that my dad and grandpa always say to me is live
and grandpa always say to me is live
and grandpa always say to me is live life to the fullest to me the charge
life to the fullest to me the charge
life to the fullest to me the charge that tells me that life is too short not
that tells me that life is too short not
that tells me that life is too short not to enjoy the positive in life and I
to enjoy the positive in life and I
to enjoy the positive in life and I never ever let anyone tell me that I
never ever let anyone tell me that I
never ever let anyone tell me that I can’t follow my dreams because Here I am
can’t follow my dreams because Here I am
can’t follow my dreams because Here I am living my dream playing college football
living my dream playing college football
living my dream playing college football studying to become a doctor being a
studying to become a doctor being a
studying to become a doctor being a leader and living and thriving in the
leader and living and thriving in the
leader and living and thriving in the hearing world
hearing world
hearing world I’m very proud of Who I am thank you and
I’m very proud of Who I am thank you and
I’m very proud of Who I am thank you and good night
good night
good night you
”
Be First to Comment