In high school, I was in a mainstream program with only one other deaf person. It was a very isolating experience and although I could communicate with my peers, it was exhausting. After my sophomore year, I moved to a Deaf school to gain social interactions and it was there I grew as a person and reconnected to my Deaf identity. I chose RIT/NTID because I wanted to be part of both the Deaf world and the hearing world, and also be able to accomplish my other goals, especially pursuing my passion for theater. I wanted to have instruction in both ASL and spoken English, as I’ve been raised using both. I knew that if I had gone to another university, I would not have been able to fully dive into experiences as I have here. RIT fits my criteria of a top-choice school because it’s a vibrant campus that embraces the Deaf community. The academics are top-notch and the unique performing arts program has allowed me to develop my acting skills and collaborate with hearing and deaf performers. Opportunities is the one word I would use to describe RIT, and I’m so glad I chose this university.
