One of the biggest things I’ve learned growing up here is the importance of community and the inclusivity of everyone around us.

It upsets me that a part of our community has been lost.

Now that ASL teachers Katherince Murphy and Molly Pourhussin have left the school district, the ASL department went with them when the school decided to not replace them. Instead of ASL, another Art elective and teacher was added.

I am extremely disappointed that ASL did not return and that students will not be able to have the opportunity I had.. 

There are only two foreign language classes you can take – Spanish and German.

ASL wasn’t just another language for me and other students.

It opened my eyes and made me realize how much of an impact we can actually have on the people around us. ASL opened up a whole new door of our community with new opportunities for me.

One of the first trips we took in ASL 2 was to the Wichita Association of the Deaf.

Being able to see a community that has been excluded was a different experience for me. 

Seeing all of their faces when we told them we were in high school is something I will never forget because we were teenagers with a passion for learning their language, it isn’t something they get to see often.

It made me want to be better at including others outside of my circle.

You know how students always say, “when will we use this in real life.” In ASL that was never a question. 

Two community hours were required each semester, where we were expected to go out into the real world and put our skills to the test.

In ASL the learning never stopped.

I plan to share my knowledge and experience with anyone who shows any interest because that is the only way to make a difference.

To get people talking, get them learning about something bigger than themselves and how they can make a difference.