This article won honorable mention in the 2021 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
She knows four languages: English, Russian, American Sign Language (ASL) and Russian Sign Language. She lived in the Ukraine up until she was adopted into the United States almost three years ago.
Senior Olena Ellison is hard of hearing, meaning she wears hearing aids to help her hear better. It’s a package deal that comes with some challenges, like not understanding what people say because they have to wear a mask and being shy to approach others who don’t know ASL.
Luckily, she came to the right place, where there are others with hearing loss who understand, and to one teacher in particular who helped Ellison feel at home.
“When I heard that Olena would be attending Northview, I was incredibly excited,” said Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher Kylie Herzog. “I was a bit nervous about how we would communicate since she wasn’t fluent in English or American Sign Language but I felt optimistic that we would figure it out.”
After those first few days of awkward gestures and smiles, Herzog and Ellison eventually broke the barrier of language and became close. For example, Herzog admires her ability to learn new languages and Ellison likes to point out that Herzog thinks her voice is beautiful.
“She was very timid to use her voice at first, but once she became comfortable, she started with words she knew,” Herzog said. “Ellison’s confidence has grown immensely and I still love hearing her accent when it sneaks through.”
And then, in a country where Ellison didn’t expect to see anyone like her, she made a friend at a hangout in Tennessee specifically for deaf teens.
“I didn’t know who he was, but he knew Russian Sign Language,” Ellison said. “He was adopted here and from Ukraine, just like me.”
She still keeps in touch with him and most times they talk in English or ASL. But sometimes, when it’s just the two of them, they talk in Russian Sign Language. A bit like their own secret language.
But Ellison isn’t afraid or embarrassed to tell her story.
“She’s very open about her life and is just as curious and excited to know other people’s stories,” Herzog said. “She always asks how I’m doing, how my kids are, what I’m planning to do for the weekend. She reminds me that I am human, not just a teacher. She loves to have fun and invites others to join her in her silly and playful world.”
Well done Hannah👍