Thanks to JumpStart, I succeeded and thrived on campus, and now, as a recent graduate, I feel at ease when communicating in ASL.

As a hard of hearing person, I grew up in mainstream programs with no access to American Sign Language or the Deaf community, though I always longed to immerse myself in Deaf culture and ASL. I finally had the chance to do just that during the summer of my junior year. I attended a summer camp for Deaf and hard of hearing high schoolers where I first learned about Gallaudet University. After coming home from camp, I decided to do more research, and submitted my application that very night. I was terrified and overwhelmed at the thought of having to learn a new language, so my admissions counselor recommended that I attend JumpStart to feel more comfortable and confident on the first day of school. Thanks to JumpStart, I succeeded and thrived on campus, and now, as a recent graduate, I feel at ease when communicating in ASL.