When someone is introduced to something new, there are an assortment of different emotions that can accompany it; fear, sadness, anger, happiness and many more. Overwhelming joy and happiness was what I felt when my friend Dalia helped me achieve what I wanted to achieve in life, which was to become a sign language interpreter. Finding my way to the career I wanted to pursue was a major stepping stone in my life and I will be forever grateful to Dalia for that. Dalia is the sweetest, most fun-loving, strong-willed person I have ever met. One feature that sets her apart and doesn't stop her from shooting for the stars is that she is deaf. In the spring of 2014, my courageous and very charismatic friend, Freddy, invited me to a minor course. Even though I didn't know or understand sign language, I wanted to be with her all the time. Since Freddy knew a little sign language, he tried to show me various basic signs so I could try communicating with Dalia on my own. In the spring of 2015, I re-enrolled in college and decided to include a sign language course in my schedule. I wanted to take the course for fun and for Dalia, of course. As the lessons began to settle in and the days turned into weeks, sign language became my favorite “fun” lesson. Dalia knew I had signed up for a sign language course and was always trying to convince me to sign with her, but I was hesitant to do so, I felt so intimidated. How would my signature compare to his? My confidence was waning, but I didn't give up and stayed true. She looked at me and asked in sign language, “Did you understand what I said?” I answered her “Yes” and with the biggest smile she had before she said: “It makes me so happy that you understand me now and that we can communicate!” My heart began to swell with what those words meant to me. At that moment, I realized the effect that sign language had on me and was filled with an inexplicable and inexplicable joy. What I felt was something that couldn't be described for someone to understand, rather a feeling that you have to experience yourself to truly appreciate what it means. The following Monday I met with my guidance counselor and changed my major to deaf studies. Having met Dalia helped me find a passion. I realized that I aspired to become a sign language interpreter simply through the experiences I shared with Dalia. In just a year and a half, I caught the passion for a new culture that I fell in love with and was ready to begin the adventure towards the new path that unfolded before me. Dalia and I remained exceptionally close friends. He will never truly understand what an impact he had on my life. I will be infinitely grateful that Dalia crossed mine
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