Hopefully this page will help. The video on this page shows teens who are deaf or hard of hearing talking about what it was like for them to go to secondary school.
Below the video are some links that might help you prepare for secondary school or might help you when you’re in secondary school too. Show your Mum and Dad as well, there are a few pages there that might be helpful for them too.
Secondary School? Let's Go!
How did you find the move up to secondary school?
I do remember my first day. We had a transition half-day and as we came up I saw these people and I thought, ‘Oh no, this is going to be so different.
I’m the only person who has a hearing loss’. And everyone was totally fine with that. It was smooth and it was great.
My name is Emily. My name is Kylie. And we're both in Year 7.
I was really nervous coming into Year 7 because we didn’t know what it was going to be like and how we were going to cope with all the homework and stuff.
When I transitioned from Grade 6 to Year 7 I felt nervous and I was scared and I wasn't confident because I didn't know people.
I think the biggest difference when you’re going into high school is that you’ve got to move from class to class and you’re not sitting in the same room.
And if you’ve got an RF or some kind of listening device it can get difficult to pass it around from class to class.
I was worried about not knowing the teacher’s name!
I was scared, worried and nervous. Because I didn't know the other students.
I was scared of what people would think of me or, ‘what if I get bullied?’ And every school is different so you never know.
For most kids you’ve just come out of this school where you’re the oldest kid and now you’re sort of like the small fish in the big pond.
If you are getting bullied the teachers and the students are there to help you.
If a grade sixer feels nervous and they feel they're not ready to go into year 7. Try and think calmly and positively.
Think you can do it, don't think you can't do it, change your attitude and be confident.
What is your favourite subject?
I enjoy maths a lot.
My favourite subject would have to be cooking. I absolutely love cooking!
My favourite subjects probably are Indonesian, which is, sorry, Language Other Than English; English, and Humanities.
Well, English and health, sport
everything really.
Cooking and Sport. They’re my favourite subjects.
My favourite subject is Trade Block Cafe!
I like sport and art.
I like drama because you just kind of get to let loose and be yourself.
I love everything!
Focus on soccer, sports and English.
My favourite subjects are maths, English, Auslan, art and cooking
but not tennis!
What would you like to do in the future?
In the future, when I'm in year 12, I will finish school and go to University and I want to get a job. I'll be working hard for the next 5 years.
I'm very excited to finish school in 3 years. I really want to work!
What advice would you give to deaf and hard of hearing students who are about to start secondary school?
It’s good being able to make your own choices so that you learn from your own mistakes.
I think the key is to always find a starting point. So if you know someone from your old school, start with them and then branch out from there.
We all have each other and we all help each other if we need it.
And you meet friends along the way.
I’m having a good time at secondary school.
If you’re going into high school and you’re hearing impaired, just be yourself. Don’t worry about what other people think.
There’s nothing really to worry about. If you get the message across to the teachers that you may find it a little difficult they will understand. They will recognise that and they will help you out.
Don't be scared!
If the year sevens are worried, angry or nervous. - don't worry, take it easy!
So mainly: Life's a climb but the view is great!
Don’t underestimate how helpful some people can be and how much they want to support you through .your hearing loss. And give everything a go.
For most high schools there are so many opportunities, so many paths that you can take. And make sure you have a FM system because it really is so beneficial.
If life gets tough, never give up. Just be yourself and if people don’t like you, who cares?
A huge thanks to the students for their part in this video
Emily, Kylie, Gab, Ebony, Sam, Majuba, Tegan, Rhys, Yousef
A special thanks to all the schools involved in this video production
Charles La Trobe College Deaf Facility, St Leonard's College Mainstream Independant School.
Victorian College for the Deaf School for the Deaf, Yarra Valley Grammar Hearing Unit.
Executive Producers, Jean Moores-Chadwick and Jenny Galloway, Victorian Deaf Education Institute.
Commissioned by The Victorian Deaf Education Institute and The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
