After the Oregon lacrosse team fell to Denver in a battle for first place in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation on April 26, senior Sami Kiser, along with her teammates and coaches, was not ready to leave the field.
The team had some people to thank first — Kiser’s non-hearing and deaf students stood on the sidelines during the game as guest coaches.
As the team huddled and post-game stretches concluded, the team signed “Thank you for coming” to the group of children and teachers.
“It was great to see the hearing and deaf community come together in that moment,” Kiser said.
Kiser, who will graduate next week with a degree in communication disorders and sciences, will most likely witness many more of those moments as she hopes to pursue a career as a deaf educator after college.
This past year, she volunteed in a classroom with deaf children. However, Kiser first learned American Sign Language during fall term of her sophomore year.
“It’s a language you have to be patient with and if you are passionate about it, it will come to you.” Kiser said.
The Maryland native then took a second year of the language and found her calling this past fall. As Kiser was enrolled in class titled ASL for Educators taught by Heidi Corce, she officially decided to she wanted to become a deaf educator.
“I was sitting in class and I don’t know what happened but it all of a sudden hit me,” Kiser said. “I turned to my teammate Shannon (Propst) and I was like ‘I want to be Heidi when I grow up.”’
Corce said that Kiser’s high energy and positive attitude molds her into a natural leader.
After that class, Corce invited Kiser to help teach at Bertha Holt Elementary, where Kiser would eventually volunteer twice a week.
“I just knew that was the right place for me,” Kiser said. “I leave there just beaming.”
When Kiser told her first year sign language teacher Johanna Larson about her experience at the school and decision to pursue a career in the field, it was an emotional moment. Both Kiser and Larson teared up when they heard the news.
“Deafness is a part of my life, so to see someone with that much emotion want to do that means that the world will be better for my family,” Larson said. “I can’t wait to see what happens with the kids she teaches.”
Kiser also found a way to combine her passion for teaching and love for lacrosse together when she taught her students how to play the game, along with some of the rules.
“It was amazing. I’m seeing what their world is like everyday, so the fact that they could see what I do every day was great,” Kiser said. “It touched my heart.”
From the lacrosse field to the classroom, Kiser seems to bring energy to whatever she is involved in, which Larson added is key for someone who signs.
“She is fun loving, full of life and her eyes are always sparkling,” Larson said. “That really helps because deaf people can’t always hear the tone of one’s voice, but they can see in your face whether it’s genuine.”
Follow Beth Maiman on Twitter @bethamaiman