Me in my French I class during my freshman year of high school.

“The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things, people say we cannot do.” Walter Bagehot

What if I had not refused to accept the word “no” when I asked if I could take French during my freshman year of high school? Where would my life have been today? I really don’t know.

You see, 12 years ago, when I was in eighth grade and at a meeting with the head of special education department, two teachers of the deaf, audiologist, history teacher and my mother to discuss my transition as a person with hearing loss from middle school to high school. When we were discussing my schedule, I had noticed that one class I longed wished to take was missing. “What about foreign language,” I asked, “I want to take French.”

“You should wait until 10th grade to take it,” said the head of special education department, “The class moves too quickly, and it’ll be incredibly difficult for you with your hearing loss.”

“No, I still want to take French,” I said.

My mother looked straight at me and said,”You should wait until 10th grade. High school will very hard and the transition will be tough.”

“I still want to take French,” I said. Everyone else in the room looked at me and said no too. I burst into tears and said, “I want to take French.”

The head of special education department finally reluctantly agreed to let me take it in my freshman year. “I hope you’ll get an A in the class,” she said.

Not only did I receive an A in French I, but I also went onto taking French honors during all four years of high school and one semester in college and receiving an A in all French classes. I lived with host families in various parts of France during my college years and also studied in Provence for two semesters.

I’m now living in Cameroon and speaking French on daily basis as part of my job.

For every time you accept the word, “No,” you could be closing a door to wonderful opportunities in life.

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