[nabs-l] highschool question

[Kirt]

This is fascinating. High school was when I first started to realize, if only subconsciously, that most people don't treat me like a normal person and blindness is pretty much the main reason. It's gotten better since, as I've learned to balance quality humor with genuine competence, but it's not an easy thing.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 29, 2014, at 6:27 PM, Joshua Hendrickson via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello to Anna and all.  I agree with what has already been said.
> Don't be afraid to joke around about your blindness if you are
> comfortable doing that.  I always used to joke around in college
> classes when I felt the time was right.  I got a lot of pretty good
> laughs from students from time to time.  I've also had a class of
> students become silent after I've made a joke and the teacher being
> afraid of offending me which I thought was pretty funny, since I'd
> been the one who made the joke in the first place.  Don't be afraid to
> talk to people around you.  If someone asks you a question about
> blindness answer the question if you can.  One time, I had a girl
> after one of my college math classes aproach me, and ask me some
> questions about what it was like being blind.  She wasn't even in my
> usual math class.  I answered her questions, then she came up to me in
> the studen center a few days later, and asked me a question, that I
> had never thought about.  She asked me how do you talk to a blind
> person?  I didn't laugh, although, I thought this was a different
> question.  I told her, you talk to a blind person the same way you
> talk to a sighted person.  Making friends can be very nice.  Good
> luck.
> 
>> On 8/29/14, Sofia Gallo via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Totally agree with Marissa, I've had a similar experience and I joke
>> about stuff all the time (smile)
>> 
>>> On 8/29/14, Marissa Tejeda via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I know this may sound...  (lack for a word right now).
>>> I have made friends very easily all my life.  High school may
>>> seem hard, but it really isn't.  (smiles)
>>> I'm in the tenth grade, and have bunches of friends.  I am in
>>> band, but when I play with the others, no one notices I'm blind.
>>> It would help if I had some music, but that's a different story.
>>> I did perform in a pep rally last year.  I got two standing
>>> ovations, (there were two rallies so everyone in the school could
>>> go).
>>> I sat at a table by myself, one day.  (This was just this week.)
>>> Two girls sat across from me.  I didn't talk, so they didn't talk
>>> to me, (same would have happened, had I been able to see).  Then,
>>> my friends, Michelle and Jessica, came and sat by me.  I started
>>> talking with them; the two girls that sat across from me were
>>> friends of there's.  we ended up having a great time and now, I
>>> can ALMOST tell them by voice.  I still get confused between
>>> Michelle and Jessica, but I'm getting better.
>>> 
>>> Just be open about it.  This may sound cruel to some, but I'm so
>>> open about my blindness, I'll joke about it in class.  "I can't
>>> see the board, can I move?" or someone says, "I'll see you
>>> tomorrow, Marissa." I'll turn, look at them, and say, "I won't."
>>> It gets people laughing.  I answer questions about being blind,
>>> whenever I'm asked.  Some people are shy; just say, "It's ok, you
>>> can ask."
>>> They think they will offend you.  Just let them know that they
>>> won't.
>>> 
>>> If you need any help, feel free to email me off-list.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Ana Martinez via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date sent: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:08:49 -0600
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] highschool question
>>> 
>>> hi all I have a question, how do you make friends in highschool,
>>> for
>>> me it has been difficult because there a lot of students and in
>>> all of
>>> my classes there are different kids ,
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for nabs-l:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/marissat789%4
>>> 0gmail.com
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/gopgirl73%40gmail.com
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/louvins%40gmail.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%40gmail.com