[Applause] imagine your life without sound now I’ve
imagine your life without sound now I’ve
imagine your life without sound now I’ve been able to hear and understand the TV
been able to hear and understand the TV
been able to hear and understand the TV or the telephone or music not being able
or the telephone or music not being able
or the telephone or music not being able to communicate and connect with their
to communicate and connect with their
to communicate and connect with their family and your friends
family and your friends
family and your friends imagine how much different your life
imagine how much different your life
imagine how much different your life would be without sound
for you it might take some imagination
for you it might take some imagination but for me I’ve lived it I was born with
but for me I’ve lived it I was born with
but for me I’ve lived it I was born with a severe to profound hearing loss which
a severe to profound hearing loss which
a severe to profound hearing loss which means when I take these hearing aids out
means when I take these hearing aids out
means when I take these hearing aids out I can’t hear anything and then after two
I can’t hear anything and then after two
I can’t hear anything and then after two years they diagnose me at what time they
years they diagnose me at what time they
years they diagnose me at what time they put on these bulky
put on these bulky
put on these bulky hardware devices and for the first time
hardware devices and for the first time
hardware devices and for the first time I heard my mom voice I heard my dog bark
I heard my mom voice I heard my dog bark
I heard my mom voice I heard my dog bark and my all-time favorite I could hear
and my all-time favorite I could hear
and my all-time favorite I could hear the toilet flush and now that I can hear
the toilet flush and now that I can hear
the toilet flush and now that I can hear that doesn’t mean that my life got any
that doesn’t mean that my life got any
that doesn’t mean that my life got any easier you see not having a hearing aid
easier you see not having a hearing aid
easier you see not having a hearing aid for the food two years of my life it put
for the food two years of my life it put
for the food two years of my life it put me way behind my peers so my parent put
me way behind my peers so my parent put
me way behind my peers so my parent put me on this intense schedule where I had
me on this intense schedule where I had
me on this intense schedule where I had to have 12 years of speech therapy
to have 12 years of speech therapy
to have 12 years of speech therapy reading sessions and many hours of music
reading sessions and many hours of music
reading sessions and many hours of music lessons I remember looking outside and
lessons I remember looking outside and
lessons I remember looking outside and watching my sibling play while I had
watching my sibling play while I had
watching my sibling play while I had extra lessons with my mom I simply had
extra lessons with my mom I simply had
extra lessons with my mom I simply had to work harder than most kids and then
to work harder than most kids and then
to work harder than most kids and then every night my parents would read me a
every night my parents would read me a
every night my parents would read me a bedtime story and the one that I always
bedtime story and the one that I always
bedtime story and the one that I always remember was the little engine that
remember was the little engine that
remember was the little engine that could you see my amazing parents they
could you see my amazing parents they
could you see my amazing parents they wanted me to learn that if I go the
wanted me to learn that if I go the
wanted me to learn that if I go the extra mile never give up and of course
extra mile never give up and of course
extra mile never give up and of course that famous line I think I can I’ll be
that famous line I think I can I’ll be
that famous line I think I can I’ll be able to reach the top of my Mountain one
able to reach the top of my Mountain one
able to reach the top of my Mountain one of the biggest mountains in my life was
of the biggest mountains in my life was
of the biggest mountains in my life was being born into the musical Osmond
being born into the musical Osmond
being born into the musical Osmond family and not been able to hear and
family and not been able to hear and
family and not been able to hear and understand their music I remember one
understand their music I remember one
understand their music I remember one time watching my family perform to a
time watching my family perform to a
time watching my family perform to a sold-out crowd at the New York Madison
sold-out crowd at the New York Madison
sold-out crowd at the New York Madison Square Garden with screaming fans and
Square Garden with screaming fans and
Square Garden with screaming fans and flashing lights and songs blasted over
flashing lights and songs blasted over
flashing lights and songs blasted over the sound system I could feel the
the sound system I could feel the
the sound system I could feel the vibration of the drum
vibration of the drum
vibration of the drum but I could not understand the words at
but I could not understand the words at
but I could not understand the words at the lead singer at the Iseman my own dad
the lead singer at the Iseman my own dad
the lead singer at the Iseman my own dad it was a strangest thing because in the
it was a strangest thing because in the
it was a strangest thing because in the middle of a crowd I felt alone I felt
middle of a crowd I felt alone I felt
middle of a crowd I felt alone I felt disconnected it’s one of the worst
disconnected it’s one of the worst
disconnected it’s one of the worst feeling in the world I’m sure many of
feeling in the world I’m sure many of
feeling in the world I’m sure many of you have had those similar feelings
you have had those similar feelings
you have had those similar feelings I’m feeling lonely frustrated
I’m feeling lonely frustrated
I’m feeling lonely frustrated discouraged disconnected in your own
discouraged disconnected in your own
discouraged disconnected in your own life but we do not overcome hopelessness
life but we do not overcome hopelessness
life but we do not overcome hopelessness by removing the optical in our lives we
by removing the optical in our lives we
by removing the optical in our lives we conquer adversity by not letting it
conquer adversity by not letting it
conquer adversity by not letting it owners controllers or overcomers and
owners controllers or overcomers and
owners controllers or overcomers and today I would like to share with you my
today I would like to share with you my
today I would like to share with you my personal model that had carried me
personal model that had carried me
personal model that had carried me throughout my life I may have a hearing
throughout my life I may have a hearing
throughout my life I may have a hearing loss but my hearing loss did not have me
loss but my hearing loss did not have me
loss but my hearing loss did not have me that doesn’t mean that I hate being deaf
that doesn’t mean that I hate being deaf
that doesn’t mean that I hate being deaf I love it it’s believed me who I am
I love it it’s believed me who I am
I love it it’s believed me who I am today and I am so proud of it I remember
today and I am so proud of it I remember
today and I am so proud of it I remember when I was a young boy playing soccer
when I was a young boy playing soccer
when I was a young boy playing soccer and my hearing aid quit working which
and my hearing aid quit working which
and my hearing aid quit working which mean that I couldn’t hear my coach or I
mean that I couldn’t hear my coach or I
mean that I couldn’t hear my coach or I couldn’t communicate with my teammates
couldn’t communicate with my teammates
couldn’t communicate with my teammates and I have to rely on lip-reading and
and I have to rely on lip-reading and
and I have to rely on lip-reading and body language no pressure
body language no pressure
body language no pressure but then I still discovered they’ve to
but then I still discovered they’ve to
but then I still discovered they’ve to be somewhat of a bluffing because I
be somewhat of a bluffing because I
be somewhat of a bluffing because I couldn’t hear all the noise and the
couldn’t hear all the noise and the
couldn’t hear all the noise and the screaming and the yelling and all the
screaming and the yelling and all the
screaming and the yelling and all the distraction and I was able to focus in
distraction and I was able to focus in
distraction and I was able to focus in on the game one time I scored a goal and
on the game one time I scored a goal and
on the game one time I scored a goal and I was so excited I do my happy dance
I was so excited I do my happy dance
I was so excited I do my happy dance and I spun around to celebrate with my
and I spun around to celebrate with my
and I spun around to celebrate with my teammates but no one was celebrating I
teammates but no one was celebrating I
teammates but no one was celebrating I was so embarrassed I look at the referee
was so embarrassed I look at the referee
was so embarrassed I look at the referee and I found out that he’d been blowing
and I found out that he’d been blowing
and I found out that he’d been blowing the whistle because I was offside that
the whistle because I was offside that
the whistle because I was offside that hard one goal did not count all because
hard one goal did not count all because
hard one goal did not count all because I couldn’t hear the whistle but
I couldn’t hear the whistle but
I couldn’t hear the whistle but sometimes in life we just have to tune
sometimes in life we just have to tune
sometimes in life we just have to tune out all that noise and all that
out all that noise and all that
out all that noise and all that distraction and go for it because in
distraction and go for it because in
distraction and go for it because in life it always counts in junior high and
life it always counts in junior high and
life it always counts in junior high and high school I was bullied on a regular
high school I was bullied on a regular
high school I was bullied on a regular basis because of my hearing loss are you
basis because of my hearing loss are you
basis because of my hearing loss are you stacked myself why would I get beaten up
stacked myself why would I get beaten up
stacked myself why would I get beaten up for being different thank goodness I had
for being different thank goodness I had
for being different thank goodness I had an older brother who was an all-star
an older brother who was an all-star
an older brother who was an all-star linebacker for the football team who
linebacker for the football team who
linebacker for the football team who always looked after me but despite
always looked after me but despite
always looked after me but despite getting beat up I was determined not to
getting beat up I was determined not to
getting beat up I was determined not to be defeated and a comma to be more
be defeated and a comma to be more
be defeated and a comma to be more compassionate and accepting of others
compassionate and accepting of others
compassionate and accepting of others even though bullying and judgment had
even though bullying and judgment had
even though bullying and judgment had continued throughout my life it taught
continued throughout my life it taught
continued throughout my life it taught me perspectives that we can control the
me perspectives that we can control the
me perspectives that we can control the quality of our lives just by how we
quality of our lives just by how we
quality of our lives just by how we think and act towards those challenges
think and act towards those challenges
think and act towards those challenges I’m not sharing this with you to feel
I’m not sharing this with you to feel
I’m not sharing this with you to feel sorry for me but to let you see how my
sorry for me but to let you see how my
sorry for me but to let you see how my loss has become my greatest advantage
loss has become my greatest advantage
loss has become my greatest advantage I’ve learned to embrace my hearing
I’ve learned to embrace my hearing
I’ve learned to embrace my hearing disability and then allow it to empower
disability and then allow it to empower
disability and then allow it to empower me instead of holding me back doing
me instead of holding me back doing
me instead of holding me back doing things that we don’t want to do but we
things that we don’t want to do but we
things that we don’t want to do but we do them anyway is what defines us and
do them anyway is what defines us and
do them anyway is what defines us and makes us who we are
makes us who we are
makes us who we are people often
people often
people often I mean how bad is your hearing loss well
I mean how bad is your hearing loss well
I mean how bad is your hearing loss well back in the day when I was a teenager we
back in the day when I was a teenager we
back in the day when I was a teenager we had a break-in and with the house alarm
had a break-in and with the house alarm
had a break-in and with the house alarm going off and all the commotion my whole
going off and all the commotion my whole
going off and all the commotion my whole family was up all night and with my
family was up all night and with my
family was up all night and with my hearing aids out I slept right through
hearing aids out I slept right through
hearing aids out I slept right through it and found out about it the next
it and found out about it the next
it and found out about it the next morning
morning
morning I was so bummed that I missed out on all
I was so bummed that I missed out on all
I was so bummed that I missed out on all that excitement and action but a Lisa
that excitement and action but a Lisa
that excitement and action but a Lisa had a good night’s sleep college was one
had a good night’s sleep college was one
had a good night’s sleep college was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done as
of the hardest things I’ve ever done as
of the hardest things I’ve ever done as you can see on the survey only one-third
you can see on the survey only one-third
you can see on the survey only one-third of deaf student graduated from high
of deaf student graduated from high
of deaf student graduated from high school and then those that go on to
school and then those that go on to
school and then those that go on to college only one-fifth of them complete
college only one-fifth of them complete
college only one-fifth of them complete that academic study I was very lucky and
that academic study I was very lucky and
that academic study I was very lucky and I managed to get through and get my
I managed to get through and get my
I managed to get through and get my bathroom degree but not without a fight
bathroom degree but not without a fight
bathroom degree but not without a fight and then I was scared to death
and then I was scared to death
and then I was scared to death well my younger brother challenged me to
well my younger brother challenged me to
well my younger brother challenged me to do a master’s degree program with him
do a master’s degree program with him
do a master’s degree program with him despite feelings of inadequacy I would
despite feelings of inadequacy I would
despite feelings of inadequacy I would let them lean accepted the challenge and
let them lean accepted the challenge and
let them lean accepted the challenge and to make a long story short after the
to make a long story short after the
to make a long story short after the two-year course was over I had to
two-year course was over I had to
two-year course was over I had to continue for another whole year and then
continue for another whole year and then
continue for another whole year and then I had to take the final exam five times
talk about feeling like a failure but I
talk about feeling like a failure but I challenge my limits I never gave up and
challenge my limits I never gave up and
challenge my limits I never gave up and I eventually passed and one of the
I eventually passed and one of the
I eventually passed and one of the proudest moments of my life was when my
proudest moments of my life was when my
proudest moments of my life was when my younger brother waited a whole year for
younger brother waited a whole year for
younger brother waited a whole year for me so that we could walk across ice cave
me so that we could walk across ice cave
me so that we could walk across ice cave together at our graduation and then he
together at our graduation and then he
together at our graduation and then he and my family cheered me on as I gave
and my family cheered me on as I gave
and my family cheered me on as I gave the commencement speech
the goal that we work how to fall in
the goal that we work how to fall in life are the one that we appreciate the
life are the one that we appreciate the
life are the one that we appreciate the most
most
most I remember socially feeling insecure
I remember socially feeling insecure
I remember socially feeling insecure because of my deaf accent and wishing
because of my deaf accent and wishing
because of my deaf accent and wishing that I could sound normal like everyone
that I could sound normal like everyone
that I could sound normal like everyone else but then it dawned on me why do I
else but then it dawned on me why do I
else but then it dawned on me why do I want to sound like everyone else and why
want to sound like everyone else and why
want to sound like everyone else and why do I want to even sound like Donnie or
do I want to even sound like Donnie or
do I want to even sound like Donnie or Marie I want to sound like me my deaf
Marie I want to sound like me my deaf
Marie I want to sound like me my deaf accent and my unique voice that’s who I
accent and my unique voice that’s who I
accent and my unique voice that’s who I am why should it matter what other
am why should it matter what other
am why should it matter what other people think of me and as soon as I
people think of me and as soon as I
people think of me and as soon as I separate myself for who I was and not
separate myself for who I was and not
separate myself for who I was and not what I was I was so much happier
what I was I was so much happier
what I was I was so much happier sometimes when people hear my deaf
sometimes when people hear my deaf
sometimes when people hear my deaf accent they think I’m from some other
accent they think I’m from some other
accent they think I’m from some other country or they respond by yelling or
country or they respond by yelling or
country or they respond by yelling or using oh boo exaggerated mouth movements
using oh boo exaggerated mouth movements
using oh boo exaggerated mouth movements thinking that that would help me
thinking that that would help me
thinking that that would help me understand but just so you know that
understand but just so you know that
understand but just so you know that doesn’t help but it does give me some
doesn’t help but it does give me some
doesn’t help but it does give me some entertainment
today I still rely on closed caption
today I still rely on closed caption when I watch movies I prefer music
when I watch movies I prefer music
when I watch movies I prefer music without words
without words
without words I still struggle and noisy environments
I still struggle and noisy environments
I still struggle and noisy environments and loud restaurants and sometimes I
and loud restaurants and sometimes I
and loud restaurants and sometimes I just like to turn my hearing aids off
just like to turn my hearing aids off
just like to turn my hearing aids off and have a nice quiet conversation with
and have a nice quiet conversation with
and have a nice quiet conversation with my wife using sign language and group
my wife using sign language and group
my wife using sign language and group conversation they can be quite comical
conversation they can be quite comical
conversation they can be quite comical like when someone makes a funny comment
like when someone makes a funny comment
like when someone makes a funny comment and I have absolutely no idea what they
and I have absolutely no idea what they
and I have absolutely no idea what they just said but I still smile and laugh
just said but I still smile and laugh
just said but I still smile and laugh I’ll admit I have the disability
I’ll admit I have the disability
I’ll admit I have the disability advantage you see I can hear whenever I
advantage you see I can hear whenever I
advantage you see I can hear whenever I want to I can also turn them off
want to I can also turn them off
want to I can also turn them off whenever I want here
whenever I want here
whenever I want here it’s like when I’m on a noisy airplane
it’s like when I’m on a noisy airplane
it’s like when I’m on a noisy airplane and I just want my peace and quiet well
and I just want my peace and quiet well
and I just want my peace and quiet well out the idea with a misconception that
out the idea with a misconception that
out the idea with a misconception that my deafness is an impairment because
my deafness is an impairment because
my deafness is an impairment because it’s an advantage it’s not a curse but a
it’s an advantage it’s not a curse but a
it’s an advantage it’s not a curse but a blessing it’s not a penalty but an
blessing it’s not a penalty but an
blessing it’s not a penalty but an opportunity this mentality has helped me
opportunity this mentality has helped me
opportunity this mentality has helped me to defy the odds of doing things Howard
to defy the odds of doing things Howard
to defy the odds of doing things Howard told I could never do I now play the
told I could never do I now play the
told I could never do I now play the violin that Bo loved the piano and the
violin that Bo loved the piano and the
violin that Bo loved the piano and the drum I was the spokesperson for the
drum I was the spokesperson for the
drum I was the spokesperson for the Starkey Hearing Foundation and
Starkey Hearing Foundation and
Starkey Hearing Foundation and participated in many of the hearing
participated in many of the hearing
participated in many of the hearing missions worldwide I wrote a book and
missions worldwide I wrote a book and
missions worldwide I wrote a book and then I’ve started my own charity in
then I’ve started my own charity in
then I’ve started my own charity in honor of my sweet grandmother to help
honor of my sweet grandmother to help
honor of my sweet grandmother to help more deaf children with the gift of
more deaf children with the gift of
more deaf children with the gift of hearing and once I was voted the sighted
hearing and once I was voted the sighted
hearing and once I was voted the sighted kid in high school but now I love
kid in high school but now I love
kid in high school but now I love conquering my fears and been able to
conquering my fears and been able to
conquering my fears and been able to give back as a motivational speaker even
give back as a motivational speaker even
give back as a motivational speaker even with the deaf accent I was told that I
with the deaf accent I was told that I
with the deaf accent I was told that I could never play a musical instrument
could never play a musical instrument
could never play a musical instrument because my ears were broken and even
because my ears were broken and even
because my ears were broken and even though I came from a musical family
though I came from a musical family
though I came from a musical family I’m sure many of you out there today
I’m sure many of you out there today
I’m sure many of you out there today have been told that you couldn’t do
have been told that you couldn’t do
have been told that you couldn’t do something but I would determined to find
something but I would determined to find
something but I would determined to find a way and to master this impossible
a way and to master this impossible
a way and to master this impossible challenge so a practice day in and day
challenge so a practice day in and day
challenge so a practice day in and day out and then I experienced a miracle
out and then I experienced a miracle
out and then I experienced a miracle I turned my hearing aids off and that I
I turned my hearing aids off and that I
I turned my hearing aids off and that I placed this on my cheek and all of a
placed this on my cheek and all of a
placed this on my cheek and all of a sudden I could hear the music not by
sudden I could hear the music not by
sudden I could hear the music not by hearing it but by filling it through the
hearing it but by filling it through the
hearing it but by filling it through the conductive by waving as their sentiment
conductive by waving as their sentiment
conductive by waving as their sentiment at that moment I knew I could accomplish
at that moment I knew I could accomplish
at that moment I knew I could accomplish anything my heart desired I just had to
anything my heart desired I just had to
anything my heart desired I just had to find a way
all of our dreams all of your dreams are
all of our dreams all of your dreams are just a heartbeat away and the answers
just a heartbeat away and the answers
just a heartbeat away and the answers all up to us when we find an excuse or
all up to us when we find an excuse or
all up to us when we find an excuse or will we embrace our limitations and move
will we embrace our limitations and move
will we embrace our limitations and move those mountain and find a way we all
those mountain and find a way we all
those mountain and find a way we all have limitations but we’ve also got
have limitations but we’ve also got
have limitations but we’ve also got potential and with one we embrace will
potential and with one we embrace will
potential and with one we embrace will determine the outcome and quality of our
determine the outcome and quality of our
determine the outcome and quality of our lives thank you very much
lives thank you very much
lives thank you very much [Applause]
”
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