First Semester of College.... DONE!

So I survived my first semester of College! SWEET!

It's been a great semester of both good and hard times with basically starting over leaving high school behind, making new friends, living on my own with a roommate, starting a new job (with fancy paychecks!), and keeping up with all my classes... but most of all, just having fun as a college student! :)

When I first enrolled to Berry, I was given several options because of my hearing:
- Option One: Private room
- Option Two: Note-taker, FM system, etc. to help me in classes (like the 504 plan in high school?)
- Option Three: Fire alarm with a blinking light
But I didn't take the first two... just Option Three for safety reasons.

Option One Explanation:
One of the main challenges about college is learning how to live and deal with a roommate. I wanted to experience college to the fullest, so I decided to try it out with a roommate and see how it goes - just so I can say I've tried it.

It was weird and kind of nerve-wrecking at first. I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like having to share a room with a girl I didn’t even know. I was also nervous about at night when I take my hearing equipment off. I wasn't sure if I was going to be missing out on stuff or if my roomie would have people in the room or would be going through my stuff while I'm asleep and unaware. And the thought of that kind of freaked me out.

But then as the year went on, living with a roommate is like living with a sister I never had, which had both its good and bad times. haha And about the night time worries… that’s basically a trust issue. I just learned to trust my roommate and set some ground rules in the “roommate contract” that everyone had to do in the beginning of the year, to make sure that we don’t have guest hanging out in the room once one of us is asleep.

But I gotta say, it’s definitely been interesting living in a hearing/deaf roommate situation. As it turns out, she loves having the deaf roommate because it gives her a lot more advantages than me like not having to be quiet when I'm asleep. But I, on the other hand, had to learn how to be SUPER quiet in the morning so I don't wake her up.

We also had a challenge in the beginning with my alarm clock because she could hear it vibrate. Thank goodness I don't have to use the flashing light or the loud noise to wake me up! :P

But even though we had a few challenges, we learned to accept and overcome them.

Option Two Explanation:
I took about 5 classes this semester, and I didn’t use a note-taker or an FM system to help me in any of them. In fact I don’t think my professors even knew about my hearing… if they did, it’s because they either figured it out or someone else told them. In High School I just told my teachers that I was deaf, but they all forgot after a month of having me in their class so I figured I wasn’t going to really worry about it here unless it became a problem.

So I just made sure I sat in the first or second row to where I can hear my professor and to be able to see the board or PowerPoint presentation for notes. And honestly, I didn’t really have a problem with any of them.

So yeah, I guess you can say those would be two obstacles a deaf person would normally face in college… but luckily for me, I did just fine this semester!

Here are some pictures of some of the highlights of this semester…

Freshman Service Day - Some girls and I got grouped together to clean and organize a storage room for a Teen Center. We found these baby dolls so we were having fun with them haha


Giving Blood for the first time! :)


Mountain Day Weekend at Berry - each residence hall had a different theme, and ours was the "InCLARAbles" :D


A "Mock-Cocktail Party" for the girls on our hall


Halloween Dance


Lighting the street with candles for all the Alumni driving in for an Alumni party:


So as you can see.... it's only been one semester and I already have tons of great memories!!

I love College!! :)

Clickers in Class

So apparently the new thing to do is to use little "clickers" in class...

The clicker we use:


I am taking a Government class on Contemporary World Issues this semester and my professor likes to use this clicker system for class questions, quizzes, and/or debate questions.

How it works is that sometimes she'll post the multiple choice question on the overhead or most of the time she'll read them allowed and we all have to send in our answer to the computer through the clicker. Then once everyone sends in their answer, a bar graph shows up on the overhead showing what everyone chose (anonymously). And that's how she monitors how the class is doing and how we generate debate topics in class.

Sending in your answers:



The class results on the overhead:
(But in my case - without the question showing)


I think its pretty weird to think about how much the world relies on technology. And I also think its pretty cool that I'm able to hear and understand the questions my professor is asking so I can send in my answer through those little-handy-dandy clickers! haha :)

Security Feature?

I was walking to my car the other night and I didn't see anyone around, so I thought I would be fine - I would just get in my car and drive back to my dorm. But then while I was walking, I realized I was hearing footsteps that weren't mine. So I glanced back and as it turns out, there was this guy walking behind me. I didn't know who he was or if he was following me so just to be on the safe side, I kept walking to the nearest open building. Luckily he just kept walking past me. lol



But even though Berry and Rome seems to be a safe and "homey" campus, it was still kinda freaky. I immediately thought about those stories you hear on other campuses about people disappearing and what-not. So I was really thankful I could hear the footsteps behind me, becuase if I didn't... what could have happend?

Kind of a freaky thought, I know... but you just never know these days... :/

I'm a working girl!

I got my first *real* job working at the Berry College Alumni Center! :)

I work for a few hours everyday before and in between my classes. Basically I just have to help out around the office/center by entering data into Word or Excel on the computer, delivering mail, stuffing envolopes to send to Alumni and help out with various Alumni events. But usually I'm at the front desk greeting people and answering the phone helping and directing anyone who calls. But then the best part is, when they don't really have anything for you to do - you can work on your homework - and still get paid! haha

At first I was really nervous about working at the front desk becuase I was worried that I might not be able to understand or help people on the phone answering their questions and what-not. But luckily, it's actually not that bad! I've been working here for about a month and a half and it's getting easier to answer the phone - I don't get so nervous! Plus, it's kinda fun when you see people and students passing through the center as they all wave or say Hi to me back!

When someone calls and I'm able to answer their questions or to transfer them to someone they need, I always feel good and proud of myself becuase I was able to answer the phone and to help them out! :)

This is the front desk - where I'm normally working:



Notice the phone?
There's so many lines and buttons to transfer calls too! haha

Strobe Lights

They just installed some Strobe Lights in my dorm and also in the bathroom for in case if there is a fire.

The guys that installed it, tested it out to show me how it works. So basically when the smoke alarm goes off, the strobe light will make a really loud noise and flash a really bright light until the fire alarm goes off. So now, not only will you hear the normal smoke alarm noise, you'll also hear the strobe light blaring and see it flashing a really bright light.
Which as we all know, means... you evacuate immediately! lol

They put one above my door in my room so if I'm sleeping, the light flashing will wake me up.
And they put it in the bathroom so in case if I'm in the shower, I'll see the light flashing and will know to get out ASAP.

Here is what it looks like:

The Strobe light above our door to our dorm:


The Strobe Light up close:


The Strobe Lights in the bathroom - they put two of them, so you can see the light flashing in all of the showers:



Its kinda weird having the strobe lights on the walls and the ceilings, but at least now I'll know if there's a fire at night or while I'm in the showers so I'll know to get out ASAP! :)

GPS Navigation System

Ever since my best friend got in a bad car accident (don't worry - she's doing great now) because she was looking at a map trying to figure out where she was going, I am VERY thankful that I can hear my portable Navigation System telling me when to turn and where I'm going. Especially since I have really really really bad sense of direction! haha

I have a weight-stand thing that holds it on the dash so it doesn't slide around, but I also tend to just put it in front of me behind the wheel so it doesn't block my view. But either way, I can hear it fine when its talking to me even while I listen to my music at the same time :)




But I gotta say, this thing DEFINITELY comes in handy... it's also a great feeling knowing I'll always be able to find my way home! hehe :D

Living on the Berry College Campus... :)

Well, it's been over a week since I've moved into my Berry College Dorm! :)

It's been so crazy and busy this week trying to get situated, ready for classes and work, meeting new people and trying to figure out where everything is! But so far it's been going great!!

My Weekly Schedule:

Monday & Wednesday:
8:00 - 10:00 -- Work in the Alumni Center
10:00 - 10:50 -- Economics
11:00 - 11:50 -- English/Writing
LUNCH BREAK
1:00 - 2:00 -- BCC - Freshmen Class

Tuesday & Thursday:
9:30 - 10:45 -- Psychology
11:00 - 2:00 -- Work in the Alumni Center
2:00 - 3:15 -- Contemporary World Issues (GOV)

Friday:
8:00 - 10:00 -- Work in the Alumni Center
10:00 - 10:50 -- Economics
11:00 - 11:50 -- English/Writing

So I have about 13 credit hours (the max they'll allow for freshmen) and about 12 hours of work a week. Then next week they're having the student involvement fair to see all the clubs that they offer and join the ones you want. So I'm excited about that!! There's two clubs I already want to join which are The Swing Dance Club and the Ballroom Dancing Club! :) But I also want to find some other clubs to join - preferably some clubs that involve community service work, so we'll see...

Work is interesting... I basically help stuff envelopes and mail them out to Alumni and help out with Alumni Events but on Tuesdays and Thursdays I work the front desk greeting people and answering the phones and what-not. So it's pretty cool helping out in an office scene... plus, I get my first pay check in two weeks!! hehe :)

Well, it's been interesting living with a roommate. So far it's been going pretty good. I use my vibrating alarm clock to wake me up and the RA's are going to install one of those strobe lights for the fire alarm in the bathroom and probably one in my dorm room so if I don't have my hearing equipment on, I'll be able to tell if there's a fire.

But it's been fun getting to know everyone on my hall.... the other night, our whole hall got dressed up and went out to dinner before we went to the Freshmen Talent Show. Last night I went to the first Swing Dance and tonight is the Welcome Back Toga Dance! And last night, Dana (Boy's Dorm) invited 3rd Clara (our floor) to their pool party next monday! Dana Dorms had to pick a girl's dorm floor to invite, and we're the ones that got invited!! :D So that was pretty cool!

Here are some pictures of my dorm....

Clara Hall's Main Entrance- We're on the 3rd floor:


Our door - Clara 310:


My half of the room:


Just what everyone loves.... textbooks!


So I guess you can say I'm officially a College Student! :D

I've survived the first week of crazyness and now I get to enjoy a long weekend for Labor Day....
of writing papers that are due next week and reading a bunch of stuff for my classes.... oh boy! :P

Future Pilot Jonathan!

Well, as some of you may know, my brother is pretty big into the military and hopes to one day be a pilot for the Air Force.
He's a member of the Civil Air Patrol at the PDK Airport in Atlanta and this summer he went to Boot Camp for two weeks. Now, to any other person (including me)... that would be complete torture. But as for Jonathan, he had the greatest time - learning different drills and commands, rescue missions, getting in shape, challenging himself and his team, Army obstacle courses, making friends, etc. In fact, he was actually sad to leave! haha But he's going back in December for the "Frost Bite" camp session where they do the same thing, but in the winter/snow. YIKES!

Jonathan's Barrack, where he slept on small bunks with a bunch of other guys:


"Graduating" Ceremony on the last day:


Marching - he's the last one in the last row - the one smiling lol:


"Goodbye Chant" with some of his friends:


Then for the rest of the summer, he got a job at the PDK Airport basically being an assistant to a private pilot. He's learning all about planes, how they work, how to wax and keep them clean... and on top of that - he's learning how to fly!! Whenever his boss had to fly to another city, Jonathan would go and sit in the Co-Pilot seat while his boss teaches him all the controls and what-not... Jonathan was so excited when his boss let him take control of the plane in the air!

We weren't sure about how he was going to do up there with the Cochlear Implant and headphones.... but surprisingly he could hear everything and could have a conversation over the headset! So that was great news!! :D

He just got his "Pilot Physical" the other day so now he's officially clear to take flying lessons and learn to be a pilot. He's thrilled!!

Well here are some pictures of Jonathan with the plane he waxed and flew to Memphis.... so far he's been to Knoxville, Memphis, St. Louis, and Athens. WOW!

Waxing a plane at one of the conventions:


The plane Jonathan got to fly... can you tell he was excited?! :P


Getting ready for take-off!


Can you imagine jumping on a plane and flying to a city for the day?!
It reminds me of the movie "Pretty Woman" where they fly to San Francisco just to see a play..... now, that's a life! :P

Well, we are all very proud of him... this has been his dream and now it's coming true! Now we just wait two more years till he graduate and see where he ends up! :D



Guess this goes to show, that you shouldn't let anything get in the way of what you want to do with your life! :D

One of the greatest sounds ever...

is hearing your car beep everytime you lock and unlock the car! :D

I just got a new car for college - Kia Optima - and I LOVE it so much! Its the first car that I've had that has the beeper thing to lock and unlock the car. So I've been having the funnest time locking my car.... sometimes I would just click the lock button a couple times just to hear the beep! haha

Don't you just love that sound?! :P



- Picking up my car -


-The tag in front.... my nickname becuase I love Swing Dancing -


-PROUD STUDENT.... I've waited a long time to be able to put this on -



*beep beep*


*beep beep*


*beep beep*


:D

May 2008 - I DID IT!

Going through memory lane of my high school years…

9th Grade – I was struggling in school trying to keep my grades at least a B+ while my hearing continued getting worse to where I was missing a lot and my speech discrimination was decreasing. I tired several different hearing aids maxing out the settings and volumes realizing that hearing aids really weren’t helping me. I was not really involved with school clubs and pretty much stayed to myself.

--Summer-– I got the Cochlear Implant.

10th Grade – I had to relearn sounds all over again and get used to life with the Cochlear Implant - 8 hour batteries, no leaning up against the fridge or the car, dealing with hearing my dogs licking themselves all the time, etc. My grades in school were getting better and I was starting to become more confident with my hearing and slowly started getting more involved with clubs.

--Summer-- VolunTEEN for the first time in the OR at the Children’s Hospital.

11th Grade - I got the new Harmony Cochlear Implant. I was hearing great and loved being able to hear and talk to my friends. I made straight A’s in school and became really involved with clubs and planning Prom and Homecoming events. Started taking the SAT and ACT’s getting ready for college.

--Summer–- VolunTEEN again in the OR at the Children’s Hospital. Got asked out for the first time and became obsessed with Swing Dancing.

12th Grade - Still hearing great, making straight A’s in school, staying involved with clubs and Swing Dancing all the time. I got accepted to my dream college (Berry College) getting amazing scholarships for my hearing and academics.


---MAY 24, 2008 – I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL ---


My Grandparents and me by my graduation sign!


My parents and me


My brother, Jonathan, and me
(he was ushering with the ROTC at my Graduation)


Me with some friends after Graduation



Now, as you can probably tell, before I got the Implant my life was pretty boring and I was a bit more kept to myself because I wasn’t hearing that great and I didn’t have much confidence in myself because of my hearing. I was too scared to get involved because I was too afraid I couldn’t hear anyone or that they would laugh at me because I couldn’t hear or understand what everyone was saying.

But once I got the implant, my life began to change. I was hearing so much better, I started becoming more confident in myself, became more involved with clubs and Swing Dancing, started dating, my grades got better, and I was happier about myself and my life.

And now, in about 7 weeks I’m moving out into my dorm on campus and I get to enjoy the next 4 years of College. Only now… I can’t wait to get involved and to meet new people. :)

Senior Prom!

Hey Everyone!
Well, nothing much going on here... just ready for the last few weeks of school to be over. I believe there are about 16 more days left for Seniors! YAY! :D

We had our Prom last weekend - it was a lot of fun!! I went with my brother and a group of friends which was pretty cool. We had dinner at a Japanese Habatchi (sp?) Steakhouse, that was neat seeing the chef cook the meal in front of us as he entertained us with his skills. Then we went to Prom - we were basically out on the dance floor the whole entire time just dancing and having a great time. During Prom they had the Senior Walk, so all the seniors walked down these stairs and out onto the red carpet and did the Senior Dance. That was pretty neat... especially since I've waited 4 years for that! :) Then after prom my friends and I went bowling in our formals and had an after party at my house. So we just hung out, played games, and watched movies all night long.

So here a few pictures to enjoy from my Senior Prom:


- My brother and I -


- My mom and I -


- My friend Li, and I "fighting" over our Date -


- Everyone at dinner -


- Everyone out on the dance floor -



So yeah, that was definitely a night to remember! :)



--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--

You know, recently someone messaged me about the implant and how he couldn't decide on whether to get the implant now or wait another 5 or 10 years until they come out with something even better.

But honestly, it really annoys me when people think like that... sure, there will be many advances in technology in the future. But when it comes to hearing the world - why wait? I can't imagine all the things I'd be missing out on over the next 5 years just waiting for better technology to come out.

Besides, Advanced Bionics is inventing better technology and coming out with newer upgrades BUT they are keeping the internal piece the same so people can upgrade their implants for the newer style. Like with me, I was implanted the Auria. But becuase they invented the new processor (keeping the internal piece the same) I was able to upgrade to the new Harmony.

So why miss out on all the things you could be hearing now just to see if there will be something better coming out in the future. I rather live for today then to just sit around and miss out...

Berry Bound... 6 more months :)

Alright, so there's been a change of plans.... instead of going to NGCSU, I'm going to BERRY COLLEGE! I got some amazing scholarships to go there and now my dream has come true. It's been my dream school ever since I was a little girl, but thanks to the scholarships - it's going to happen! :)


The Girl Dorms - Where I'll be staying next year. Now I have a choice of having a private room or having a roomate... which do you think is better?!


The famous mill on campus...


Another part of Clara Hall (the dorms where I'll be staying)...


But yeah, I'm really excited!! I'm going to be majoring in Marketing in the Business department. I've sat in some of the classes and it was so much fun! We had a group discusion about McDonalds and how they market and franchise their company all over the world. I also got to hear about the project they're going to be working on right now - I almost wish I could do it now!! :) I don't think I've ever been so excited about taking a class... and sadly I have to wait two years before I get to start on my "major" courses. lol

So now, only about six more months till I'm college bound! YAY! :)

CI users in risk?!

(please note, this could be offensive to some... and I'm sorry if it is...)


My mom forwarded this quote to me from a "Deaf Blog" and it literally cracked me up and puzzled me why people would even think like that. But here is the quote and maybe you'll laugh at it too...

"Look forward to the studies of long-term consequences of CI users, especially emotional and congential development. Let's imagine that one of the country or terrorist group use the electronic magnetic pulses (EMP) weapons to attack the civilian population.
The CI users will be mostly vulnerable to the EMP attacks as compared to deaf individuals without CI devices inside themselves. Or the CI users walk accidently past the huge microwaved area, ex. corporate research military base. Their heads surely will explode or fried.
Culturally deaf people will apply their savvy.natural insticts to respond to any arising situation much better than individuals with CI. Real freedom from the technopoly or enslave by the artificial intelligence/technology."

And now, apparently she is going to have her implant removed because of this... : /


First of all... if you are near anything that has a magnetic field such as the MRI or some rollar coasters/theme park rides - there will always be a sign that says its a magnetic field so beware... thats your cue to not go there.



And second of all - I would personally rather put myself in risk for the future "magnetic pulses (EMP) weapons" (if there is such a thing) then to not hear anything at all right now.



I can't imagine all the things I would be missing out on if I thought about ALL the little crazy risks/consequences of getting it.
Its like saying - we are in risk everyday for driving on the streets becuase there are so many DUI and crazy people driving.... so I'm not going to drive my car anymore...I'll just walk. lol



I don't mean to sound sassy about it (so I'm sorry if I have offended anyone by this post)... but it just bugs me that people would give up the chance to hear EVERYTHING over a SMALL risk that would probably never ever happen : /

Update on my Grandpa!

Hey Everyone! Sorry about the late update - time flies by way to fast!
But I just wanted to tell you a little bit of whats going on...
(this is based on my understanding of what he's going through from what he's told me)

He got turned on a few weeks ago and he's already doing great and making progress!

At first he went through the normal phases of beeps and robotic voices. When he first got turned on he didn't like it much and after a few days it still sounded scratchy but he DID like it better then what he had before. He said he could understand a little bit better then when he had two hearing aids so he continued to work with the implant to help make it better.

My grandmother and aunt both work with him on therapy at home everyday training his brain to relearn and understand the sounds of the environment and of people's voices. Can you believe at 85 years old, he's learning to hear all over again?! :)

Some of the sounds he's heard so far:
- air conditioning
- dish washer
- family members talking with pretty much all understanding
- watched the news and got all of what they were saying
- recognized an Elvis song in the background of a movie playing
- the president's debate on the TV without closed captians

He's still learning to cope with the implant and trying to figure out which hook he likes best, which programs to use, how to wear his hats with the implant, how to keep the implant on with the oxygen tube and glasses, etc. He's been having difficulty with keeping the implant on with the tubing for his oxygen and glasses becuase they all hook on to his ears. At first it was a mess but he's gotten used to it and has learned to keep it all on. :P

But as of right now, he's understanding pretty good and is progressing really well! He can communicate with us again and we don't have to keep repeating everything we say and deal with him yelling anymore! His voice has gotten softer and its great having our grandpa back! :)

He's still having a hard time with distance becuase it's only been a month but over all he's doing great!

He's also having a great time telling all of his friends at his complex about his experiences and everything that he's going through. And of course, everyone is just AMAZED with the Cochlear Implant and wishes they could get one! :)

Here are some pictures of him and the implant...
















He's been to 2 mappings so far and is continueing to progress really well! :)
We're all very happy for him!!