Personal Statement on Education

I believe that deaf students should receive a bilingual-bicultural education, where American Sign
Language is the first language learned. Without a strong language foundation, a student cannot
learn to the best of his or her ability. I believe in providing students with every opportunity and
chance allows for students to achieve their fullest potential and the most important opportunity
for any child is their early acquisition of language.

I believe that an education should capitalize on a students skills, not their deficits. A teacher-
centered approach is not one-size-fits-all and I believe educators should try to individualize
lessons and activities to their students. Students should be the center of learning, meaning that
teachers must not merely lecture students, but instead equip them with the tools to learn for
themselves.

As a future teacher, I plan to incorporate these beliefs into my teaching to the best of my ability
so that my future students will receive an equal opportunity in education and be equipped to
excel later in school and in their future lives.