Jonathan Sperry: Never, Ever Give Up
Jonathan Sperry’s world is a busy one -- filled with classes, a fulltime job, and all the joys and responsibilities of a newlywed. But while many of Jonathan’s challenges may seem familiar to Bethel students, they are different in one important way: Jonathan was born with a hearing impairment that left him 80% deaf in one ear and 90% in the other.
Growing up in the tiny town of Providence, KY, Jonathan’s deafness wasn’t diagnosed until he was 4, because he had taught himself to lip-read so skillfully. To this day, Jonathan doesn’t know sign-language. He has learned to navigate through his busy world quite well without it.
Still, the 33-year-old admits that being hearing-impaired has significant disadvantages. “Simple things like talking on the telephone or having a conversation within a group is impossible,” Jonathan says. “I sometimes need to rely on others, or equipment, to live a normal life.”
For instance, without hearing aids, he has to use a bed-shaker alarm to wake up in the morning. Because hearing aids are designed to amplify all the surrounding noise, a lively classroom sounds like the din of a rousing football game.
“It can be challenging to limit the sounds to what is important,” he says. “The instructor can also be moving from one side of the room, which can cause the voice to become garbled.” Discussions are nearly impossible to follow, because he might hear the answer, but not the question.
The challenges posed by his hearing impairment became more evident when he first started college. After graduating from high school, he attended four different universities, but nothing seemed like a good fit. He dropped out of college for what would be the last time, and found a job in the hospitality industry, working his way up from server to bartender, then in various supervisory roles like Service Manager and Beverage Manager at upscale country clubs.
“After ten years, I got tired of the late nights, working every weekend, working the holidays, and the long hours. I decided to go into retail at Lowe’s. I also wanted to finish up my degree, because even with the challenges, I’ve always felt that having a college degree was important.” In fact, higher education is a focus in Jonathan’s family, and most of his relatives have graduate or post-graduate degrees.
Jonathan finally found the Bethel Success program in January of 2010.
“I chose Bethel for several reasons,” he recalls. “One of the main reasons was that Bethel offered online classes which could be taken anytime. My position as a Department Manager at Lowe’s also requires me to work a different schedule every day and week, so I needed the flexibility.”
But it was the online format that really sold him. “I can take classes without having the distractions that are found in the traditional settings. While listening to the instructors online, I can also view the notes which usually show what the speaker is saying word-for- word. The instructors have been helpful in providing feedback and showing guidance. It’s clear they want everyone to be successful.”
Although it has taken Jonathan more than 16 years to accomplish his goal, he is on track to graduate with a degree in Management & Organizational Leadership this May. “Once I have my degree, I plan to use it to further my career, whether it’s with Lowe’s or with another company,” he says. He has proved himself to be an exceptional student, and so far, has made straight A’s. “I want to continue on and get my Master’s through Bethel, even though my current job doesn’t require it.”
Cheering him on is his new wife, Lana Colvard Sperry, a speech pathologist. The couple met through an online dating site, and married in August of 2011. Jonathan calls her “one of the most special women in the world.”
What would Jonathan say to someone considering Bethel University?
“First, I would say to any person considering college to understand how important it is to not give up. Yes, it’s not always easy, and the traditional method of going to class does not work for everyone. If you have a disability, don’t let your impairment prevent you from getting a degree. Choose the best way to learn, whether it’s online or on- campus. Most of all,” he stresses, “never give up, even if it takes longer to finish than you had hoped.”
Posted Wed. 07, Mar, 2012
Jonathan Sperry’s world is a busy one -- filled with classes, a fulltime job, and all the joys and responsibilities of a newlywed. But while many of Jonathan’s challenges may seem familiar to Bethel students, they are different in one important way: Jonathan was born with a hearing impairment that left him 80% deaf in one ear and 90% in the other.Growing up in the tiny town of Providence, KY, Jonathan’s deafness wasn’t diagnosed until he was 4, because he had taught himself to lip-read so skillfully. To this day, Jonathan doesn’t know sign-language. He has learned to navigate through his busy world quite well without it.
Still, the 33-year-old admits that being hearing-impaired has significant disadvantages. “Simple things like talking on the telephone or having a conversation within a group is impossible,” Jonathan says. “I sometimes need to rely on others, or equipment, to live a normal life.”
For instance, without hearing aids, he has to use a bed-shaker alarm to wake up in the morning. Because hearing aids are designed to amplify all the surrounding noise, a lively classroom sounds like the din of a rousing football game.
“It can be challenging to limit the sounds to what is important,” he says. “The instructor can also be moving from one side of the room, which can cause the voice to become garbled.” Discussions are nearly impossible to follow, because he might hear the answer, but not the question.
The challenges posed by his hearing impairment became more evident when he first started college. After graduating from high school, he attended four different universities, but nothing seemed like a good fit. He dropped out of college for what would be the last time, and found a job in the hospitality industry, working his way up from server to bartender, then in various supervisory roles like Service Manager and Beverage Manager at upscale country clubs.
“After ten years, I got tired of the late nights, working every weekend, working the holidays, and the long hours. I decided to go into retail at Lowe’s. I also wanted to finish up my degree, because even with the challenges, I’ve always felt that having a college degree was important.” In fact, higher education is a focus in Jonathan’s family, and most of his relatives have graduate or post-graduate degrees.
Jonathan finally found the Bethel Success program in January of 2010.
“I chose Bethel for several reasons,” he recalls. “One of the main reasons was that Bethel offered online classes which could be taken anytime. My position as a Department Manager at Lowe’s also requires me to work a different schedule every day and week, so I needed the flexibility.”
But it was the online format that really sold him. “I can take classes without having the distractions that are found in the traditional settings. While listening to the instructors online, I can also view the notes which usually show what the speaker is saying word-for- word. The instructors have been helpful in providing feedback and showing guidance. It’s clear they want everyone to be successful.”
Although it has taken Jonathan more than 16 years to accomplish his goal, he is on track to graduate with a degree in Management & Organizational Leadership this May. “Once I have my degree, I plan to use it to further my career, whether it’s with Lowe’s or with another company,” he says. He has proved himself to be an exceptional student, and so far, has made straight A’s. “I want to continue on and get my Master’s through Bethel, even though my current job doesn’t require it.”
Cheering him on is his new wife, Lana Colvard Sperry, a speech pathologist. The couple met through an online dating site, and married in August of 2011. Jonathan calls her “one of the most special women in the world.”
What would Jonathan say to someone considering Bethel University?
“First, I would say to any person considering college to understand how important it is to not give up. Yes, it’s not always easy, and the traditional method of going to class does not work for everyone. If you have a disability, don’t let your impairment prevent you from getting a degree. Choose the best way to learn, whether it’s online or on- campus. Most of all,” he stresses, “never give up, even if it takes longer to finish than you had hoped.”