Melanie Page

“They are people who take and hold a generous and neighborly view of self-preservation; they do not believe that they can survive and flourish by the rule of dog eat dog . . . They know that work ought to be necessary; it ought to be good; it ought to be satisfying and dignifying to the people who do it; and genuinely useful and pleasing to the people for whom it is done” (Wendell Berry’s book Another Turn of the Crank quoted in All About Love by bell hooks, p. 100).

It’s the end of summer, which means school is back in session. I’m on my last semester on campus, and then from January to May I will be doing an internship near St. Louis, Missouri. I’m taking two three interpreting classes, which means I’ve saved myself time to volunteer in the Deaf community and with an interpreting agency that I support.

I find great joy in working with others with no expectations in return — of holding others in a “neighborly view” — especially if I can give of myself in my own community. I’m looking forward to all the Deaf Night Out dinners coming up in my area, and to meeting with and supporting the local Deaf organization that does fundraising and events in the Deaf community. They have taught me what it means to be neighborly be graciously accepting me into their group and being patient with me. Truly a gift!