Back home, my older sister is taking American Sign Language classes as a language requirement for graduation. When she found out she would need this extra class before she could graduate, she was annoyed to say the least, and eager to get the credits over with. However, since she started her first ASL class last semester, she couldn’t be happier with the opportunity to have gotten to take the class. She would come back from it every week and share new signs she learned during our dinner table conversations, making me interested in learning more about the language as well. Since languages have always been intriguing to me, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn some of the basics of ASL. Having grown up bilingual, I’ve been exposed to the different mannerisms and cultures associated with the countries of the languages I speak. Being able to speak two languages allows me to connect with so many more people, so it’s been especially important to me to familiarize myself with the basic introductory vocabulary of any new language I come across. Especially living in the U.S., where our population is truly a melting pot of cultures with various languages, being able to simply say hi in another person’s native language creates a connection between two once distant individuals. It also allows for a sense of inclusion and respect. During one of my previous volunteer jobs working at the front desk directory at a hospital, being able to provide basic instructions in the native language of some of the visitors I believed gave them a sense of comfort and trust in the hospital to take care of them and their loved ones. In addition, having had the opportunity to volunteer in an adult day care center has further shown me how important languages such as ASL are in creating meaningful connections. I really wished I knew some basic signs back when I volunteered at the center in order to communicate with some of the members, but having this knowledge now is something I will forever value and make sure to use when the opportunity arises.