Emma Simmons sign language message
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00:00If I were to give a message to my younger self, it would be to keep trying and don't give up.
00:09Hello, my name is Emma. I was born hearing and around two and a half years old I contracted
00:17meningitis and became profoundly deaf in both ears. As a young child growing up I attended a
00:24mainstream school and around the age of 11 I later on attended a school for the deaf.
00:30I then went to college and after I'd finished college I then went on to university.
00:38I didn't start university at the same time as my hearing peers.
00:43I started university at a later age but I achieved it and I'm so proud. A recent achievement for me
00:51was when I started rowing. I'm the only deaf rower there and all the other rowers are hearing
00:59there's been lots of new challenges and new experiences for me. It's been absolutely
01:04fantastic and I really enjoy it. We travel competing in races all over Northern Ireland and South Island.
01:12If I were to give a message to my younger self
01:15I would be to keep trying. Don't give up. You can achieve just the same as your hearing peers.
01:26It might mean you have to work a little bit harder than them but that's okay. Keep trying.
01:32keep fighting. Don't give up. And stay positive.