On Oct. 19 and 20 ASL III and IV students perfected all of their hard work in the biannual American Sign Language (ASL) fall show, Happenin’ Hands. Students signed their songs and acted out hilarious skits while entertaining the crowd.
“I had a great time performing and it was worth all of my hard work,” senior Chase Blaker said. “My favorite song was the ‘Thug Story’ because it was a funny song and I got to do it with my friends.”
Accomplishing a great show does not come easily. Students worked ambitiously outside of class to perfect the show.
“We work a lot harder than people think,” junior Christina Mayer said. “We have been practicing all period since the beginning of the year and we have practices a few days a week.”
Every ASL class and practice consists of thinking of ideas, and whatever does not work they change. If the students did not put one hundred and ten percent into rehearsals, the show would not have turned out amazing.
“Students will enjoy the show because it is fun to watch,” junior Chrissy Keller signed. “The show has comedy and action.”
Instead of doing boring vocabulary and worksheets the class spends all of their class period practicing their songs. The show represents a fun way of learning and helps students understand the language better.
“I look forward to class because rehearsing for the show is fun,” Mayer said. “It helps memorize vocabulary.”
The fun and excitement of the show and rehearsals makes some students realize how significant the ASL language and culture is.
“ I want to study ASL in the future,” junior Amanda Laird said. “ Some of my family is deaf and I want to become fluent someday.”
During the show, the ASL IV class dedicated a memorial song “You Raise Me Up” to Ryan Crowell, a senior last year, who was in the ASL III class. Crowell passed away May 25.
“I believe his song reminded me of how Ryan taught us to be good in life because he taught us so much,” senior Vanessa Burton said. “ There is something good in him and to me is a hero.”
The show had a great turnout and there were many laughs in the crowd and big smiles on the performers faces. All of the proceeds go to DEAF (Deaf Education Arts Foundation) to help deaf and hard of hearing students go to college and gives scholarships to hearing students who plan to major in deaf studies in college.
“I am in ASL IV so I have been performing for a while and I love it,” senior Bryn Lutz said. “ Doing the shows helps me understand the language better and I enjoy performing with my friends.”
