Growing Into My Own Advocacy by Jake

Growing Into My Own Advocacy by Jake - May 2026 Scholarship Essay

One challenge I once found intimidating was advocating for myself in academic and professional spaces. As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), I grew up advocating for my parents including interpreting at appointments, asking questions on their behalf and navigating systems that weren’t designed for Deaf families. But advocating for myself felt different. I often worried about saying the wrong thing, taking up too much space or not sounding “qualified enough.” Speaking up in class, asking for help or reaching out to mentors felt overwhelming.

What changed was realizing that the same skills I used to support my family like communication, clarity and confidence under pressure were the exact skills I needed to support myself. Programs like CCEJ’s Building Bridges helped me understand identity and power dynamics, and they taught me how to use my voice intentionally. My Digital Media and Communications (DMAC) pathway coursework pushed me to present my ideas, defend my design choices and collaborate with others. Slowly, advocating for myself became less intimidating and more natural.

Now, speaking up feels manageable because I understand that self‑advocacy is about being clear, prepared and willing to ask for what I need. It’s a skill I’ll carry with me into engineering, where communicating ideas and advocating for accessible, human‑centered solutions will be essential.