As an ASL student I get ask all the time why I choose my major. Let's rewind back a little, at the end of last summer the bishop of my ward (that's LDS for church) posted on the ward's facebook asking if anyone who knows Sign Language would be willing to help interpret for a deaf woman interested in joining the Chrisitianburg Ward and help her feel welcomed. I offered to help interpret a tour of the chapel. After the tour the woman complimented me on my sign language asking an slew of question such as: Are your parents deaf? Are you an interpreter? Are your siblings deaf? How do you know sign language? To her surprise I told her that for the most part I learned sign language through a woman in my neighborhood happens to be deaf and blind. The meeting ended with her kind words of encouragement to go to school to become an interpreter. Later that month I looked up interpreting programs in Virginia and realized all of Reynold's classes were online this year because of the pandemic. I live around 3 hours from Richmond so I thought I would take advantage of this. At first I only wanted to take a couple of classes but after some talks with admissions, the department head, financial aid and my advisors I found I qualified for grants to attend school full-time! It's my second semester here at Reynolds and I love it! 

Anyway lets rewind way back! Back to a time when an interpreting degree wasn't even a thought. Back to a time when Bert was learning sign language guiding my deaf and blind neighbor through the flea markets and the grocery store. Let me e-introduce you to my friend Aloma Long! Despite being in a completely different demographic I would consider Aloma to be one of my best friends. Aloma was born hearing (a person who can hear) but lost her hearing soon after. She later became blind around 30 years because of a rare eye disease but she has not missed beat through it all. Her positivity is radiant and contagious. Her love of people and ambitious attitude is non stop. Our friendship started with me walking down the street to receive mini sign language lessons. As most Latino parents do, they sent me to help with manual labor and projects around her house to help out. Later on I was able to start giving her rides to places she needed to go. Her favorite thing in the whole world are butterflies which is very apparent once you walk into her home. I am still very good friends with Aloma. I give her rides quickly and still help her whenever I can. 

Who knew that this friendship was actually a foundation to my future career?! Even though I have known Aloma for year I soon realized the sign language in the classroom was very different that the sign language I was using with Aloma. After my first evaluation I came to the realization that I had been learning more Signed Exact English and a lot of regional signs rather than formal American Sign Language. This is because Aloma cannot use non manuals, facial expressions, or most body language to understand meaning. She needs a linear form of communication that follows English's grammar. Also a little known fact is there are tons or regional dialects of sign language. Just like accents in English there are "accents" in the ASL community. I still have plenty to learn about sign language and interpreting but I am blessed beyond measure to have gained so much experience in such a memorable way.