Funding Yale Dreams for a Resilient Deaf Student

At two years old, I was diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and later underwent two surgeries to receive cochlear implants. While doctors once predicted I would struggle to read past a fourth-grade level, I've spent every day since proving them wrong.

Growing up deaf meant learning to navigate a world not built for me. I worked hard—learning to speak through years of auditory verbal therapy, improving my balance through physical therapy, and mastering American Sign Language (ASL) to better connect with others. In school, I relied on assistive technology like microphones that connect to my implants and closed captions that brought lessons to life. But the biggest challenge wasn't just technical—it was emotional.

For a long time, I tried to hide my disability. I tucked my pink cochlear processors beneath my hair, hoping people wouldn't see me as "The Deaf Girl." I was constantly reminded of how different I was—each time I asked a teacher to repeat themselves, each time I handed over a microphone, or each time someone noticed my devices.

But high school changed me. I began to see my deafness not as a limitation but as a unique lens through which I experience the world. With that confidence, I became Editor-in-Chief of my school newspaper, enrolled in AP classes, and worked to amplify unheard voices—mine included.

Now, I'm ready to take the next step: Yale University.

Yale is where I see all of my passions coming together—economics, political science, public service, and storytelling. I'm fascinated by the ways these systems shape society, but more importantly, I care about the people behind the policies. Growing up disabled, I've had to navigate systems that weren't built for me. Yale's emphasis on interdisciplinary learning will give me the tools to connect theory with action, data with humanity, and my story with a mission: to create a more inclusive, equitable world.

But I need your help to get there.

Attending Yale comes with a financial burden that my family cannot carry alone. Your support will go directly toward my tuition, housing, books, and the resources I need to thrive in this new chapter of my life.

I've worked hard, faced adversity, and found strength in what once felt like a weakness. My deafness is not a barrier—it's a beacon. It's guided me to where I am today and will continue to fuel my drive to uplift others.

If you believe in resilience, in equity, in breaking barriers—please consider donating and sharing my story. Every dollar, every share, every word of support brings me closer to my dream.

Thank you for listening to the silence with me—and for helping me turn it into something powerful.