I’m not great at meeting new people. I am shy, and quiet, and am generally uncomfortable around anybody new for at least a few introductions past the first. I do not like when I am forced to speak to new people; so, when I had to introduce myself to my piano accompanist for the solo and ensemble competition, and then play my instrument in front of her, I was nowhere near comfortable. I walked into her house, bass clarinet in hand, and was immediately assaulted by barking dogs and screaming from all directions. The screaming, of course, was not at me, but at the dogs’ incessant yelping. Paralyzed by the noise, I froze in the doorway, where I was eventually rescued by my accompanist. She looked me up and down, laughed, and invited me inside without having to speak a word.
Prior to leaving my house, I had chosen to wear my American Sign Language sweatshirt because I thought it could provide a talking point if became awkward between me and this stranger whom I was supposed to trust enough to perform with. I did not expect her to notice my hoodie and immediately ask me—in ASL—if I knew ASL.
We signed for a moment about my plans for the future and how we both came to know ASL, and then came the part that was supposed to be the most intimidating: I was going to have to play for her. All the way up to the moment I began to play I believed I was going to be terrified. I thought that I would be intimidated by her presence, and afraid of her judgment. Instead, I was calm, even excited to play for this woman whom I had just met.
Because we both knew ASL we bonded immediately. I had been so excited to talk to somebody who had the same interests as me, in a language that we both understood, that I had completely forgotten I was supposed to be nervous. The excitement we shared over speaking a common language aside from English, brought us joy and excitement that lasted throughout our rehearsal; and when the rehearsal finished, we were able to talk over the loud, barking dogs with ease.
Whether it was fate, luck, or something else that suggested I wear my ASL sweatshirt that night I will never know, but after meeting my accompanist and signing with her comfortably, and excitedly I know for sure that learning new languages and meeting new people is important. Not only did learning ASL bring me closer to my accompanist and help me to feel at ease in her presence, it taught me a lesson that will stick with me forever: do not ever be afraid to show off. If I had not worn that sweatshirt, if she had not asked me about it, if I had not decided to open up and share with her that I do understand ASL, I would not have felt nearly as comfortable performing with her. Separately we immersed ourselves in a language, a culture, that we previously did not understand, and together we embraced what we knew and bonded over our shared knowledge in a way that brought us closer together.