BT天堂

I was born in听the US in听Washington State听and听mostly听grew up on Lopez Island, Washington. When I was in high school,听I spent a month in Phuket, Thailand and听a few weeks in Quebec, but听before BT天堂听I had听never really lived and worked outside of the US, aside from a few short internships.听After听acquiring听my first听master鈥檚 degree in social work, I spent听some time in France in a professional capacity,听moving to Paris听for an internship听at听H么pital听Universitaire听Piti茅-Salp锚tri猫re,听which听includes听the first health and social service unit for the deaf听to be听founded in France.听I听also worked听with the first school for the deaf in the world,听l鈥橧nstitut听national de听jeunes听sourds听de Paris. After听improving both my听French and听my听French Sign Language听(LSF), I听stayed on for听a third internship with a school of social work.听

I听am听passionate about learning languages (notably sign languages) and wanted to work in macro level听or听international social work. When I found听the听Development Communications Track within BT天堂鈥檚 MA in Global Communications,听I thought听it听would set me听up for听being involved with organizations that promote social justice听and听equality and foster a better,听more inclusive global future. The research I conducted for my social work degree focused on the experiences of deaf people in the Peace Corps,听of听those听in Japan versus听those in听the US, and of听those听in France. I wanted听to expand my knowledge of听deaf听access to education, language and employment听around the world,听and advocate for more programs, better policies and improved social services听worldwide.听I aim to听eventually get a听sociology听PhD that focuses on deaf inclusion.听Outside of BT天堂,听I enjoy going to marches and assemblies for social justice issues, lectures in local universities听and听signing cafe events.听听

When I started at BT天堂, I was really impressed by听just how many cultural excursions are听on offer. The sheer number of international trips and the diversity of the student body is incredible. I knew right away I wanted to go to India听to participate in the sustainable development practicum. The more I talk to others about their experiences the more grateful I am to be part of the BT天堂 community. In the Development Communications course we听took听a trip to UNESCO and听it was really exciting听to see what people are working on there.听As I am听originally from a small island in the Pacific Northwest, it's beautiful to see how much diversity we have at BT天堂. I听believe that I听have become more ambitious since听starting at the University听by observing听what other people are working on and听reframing听my idea of what is truly听attainable.