My name is Tamla. I am from Burma. I have three brothers and two sisters. I am the youngest daughter. My father died when I was eleven years and my mother live in Thailand. I am the only deaf in my family. I grew up in hearing place and my family forced me to learn how to speak. I was a shy, deaf girl with no knowledge. I was so quiet because I didn’t know how to socialize with people. I spent most of my times in a quiet place. My parents sent me to school but it was so hard for me to learn without hearing. I was the only deaf in my village. I felt depressed about life because all of my friends were hearing. They didn’t want to become friends with me and they discriminated against me. The teacher didn’t understand how hard I was trying. Everyone knew me, they said that I was stupid, idiot, and not important. I thought they were right because I didn’t trust myself and didn’t know that I was able to do it. I had to quit school when I was in the 6th grade. I escaped to Thailand when I was fourteen years old because Burma is run by a dictator. Burmese people are suffering a civil war, shortage of food and many abuses that cannot be counted. People have to pay for school and most of the children can’t go to school. They have to support their family and have had to work morning till night and earn a little money. I lived in Thailand refuge camp about four years. We need WHOLE ME because many deaf refugees from different country moved here and they really need help. Most deaf kids have problem with their family because they don’t know how to communicate each other. For example, one deaf kid from Burma, he never goes to school and doesn’t have communicated between his parents. He always say, “I am stupid and I can’t do it.” He really needs our WHOLE ME help. I know that WHOLE ME will continue to successful in the future. Then on July 20, 2005 I moved to United States with my sister, brother in law and niece. I started my new life and went to Solvay High School. I had many problems when I started school and I didn’t know English or American Sign Language. My teacher Mr. Ruf told me about WHOLE ME after school program for the deaf and it was very interesting for me and I knew that I would learn more sign from WHOLE ME after school program. Also I was very busy with my classes and didn’t have time with my friends.

I was very excited about WHOLE ME because I would have more times with my new deaf friends and talked each other with sign. It was easy to communicate and I had a lot of fun with friends. I loved to play games with my friends and draw the pictures. I had many positive experiences in WHOLE ME after school program that taught me to trust myself and follow my dreams. The experiences were so important for me. They helped me to receive success in my life and changing my negative attitude. I learned a valuable lesson that gave me a positive attitude and always know that I can do it, I am able to do it.

I also had a wonderful summer because I worked for CNY works at WHOLE ME. It was a great time for me and I had learned so much. It was a new experience for me and I really enjoyed it. I learned how to behave if I have interview, job experience, shopping for office, went to different stores and learned what we need for store, painting, cleaning, and planning for after school program, women dinner, meetings and presentations. I loved to go to different stores and see what positive and negative and what we should have for store and not. My supervisor helped me to learn American culture. It was the most important for me. My favorite job is working with kids because I have a lot of fun with them. My summer was very busy but I learned what I need to know. I feel what I learned in WHOLE ME has effected every part of my life in a positive way.

I love WHOLE ME a lot!