Hard to Hear, Easy to Learn by Matthew

Hard to Hear, Easy to Learn by Matthew - November 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I was only five years old and just starting school, I told my mom that I didn’t think I was hearing everything my friends were hearing. She took me to the audiologist, where I was diagnosed with a hearing impairment and began wearing hearing aids. These hearing aids have greatly improved my classroom experience. Throughout my time as a student, I have been able to achieve good grades as well as being enrolled in honors and AP classes, and now the IB Diploma program. To be fair, I take the technology provided to me inside and outside of the classroom for granted, and I honestly don't pay much attention to it. However, when I stop and think about how different my education would be without them, I feel tremendous gratitude for growing up at the time I have with technologies that help me personally, that help all students’ education, and that keep us safe.
I remember that, even in preschool, or occasionally when I wouldn't wear my hearing aids as a child, I would often have to ask people to repeat themselves, or more often than not, I would just pretend I understood them rather than feeling awkward about having them repeat themselves, sometimes multiple times. Thankfully, I was given hearing aids by my doctor and suddenly, I stopped having to ask people to repeat themselves. Even today, though I have less trouble with my hearing than I did back then, I am very glad that I don't miss instructions, especially in very important settings such as when listening to instructions for an AP exam or the SAT.
Furthermore, other technologies that aren't even related to hearing allow me a much richer education than I might otherwise have. For example, our school-issued, internet-enabled Chromebooks allow me to access vast amounts of research, as well as providing an online workspace where I can be creative, work with others, and fully learn about certain topics even outside of the classroom setting, meaning I will be prepared for class and have a strong foundation for learning.
On a darker note, my school experience today involves the constant threat of violence in the form of school shootings. Fortunately, my school has numerous defensive technologies in place, which greatly increase my feeling of safety and security when at school. Recently, a school in my district-Evergreen High School-was the location for a shooting. The following day as I walked into school, I remember how somber my entire school felt, and we had a drill in each class about how to be prepared for a shooting if it ever were to happen at my school. An automated lock-down and safety announcements are examples of the various technologies that are in place to help keep me and my peers safe. Although the topic of violence is a somber one, I believe it is very crucial to mention this part of my classroom experience.
Thanks to the technologies in place throughout my classroom experience, I have felt much safer, more supported, and have found it easier to overcome my hearing impairment to the point of taking most of these technologies for granted. I truly believe that without the innovations we have in place today in our school system, my education would be a much less positive and fulfilling experience.