Signed with Passion, Called by His Purpose: How I Became an ASL Teacher

DURING MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, I remember my marching band director looking at me and saying, "Take your sign language skills, go out into the world, and make a difference." At the time, I gave him a half-confident smile and nodded as if I understood. Truthfully, I had no idea what those words really meant... and it would be many years before I fully grasped their significance. But nonetheless, his words stuck with me.

A similar conversation happened the week of my high school graduation with my American Sign Language (ASL) teacher. I remember walking down the hallway with him a few days before I was set to graduate. He asked me what I was planning to major in and where I was going to college. When I told him I’d be majoring in music composition, I could see the disappointment on his face. He shook his head and told me that choosing not to pursue ASL was a huge mistake and a waste of talent— that God had blessed me with a natural gift.

At the end of our conversation, he handed me an ASL dictionary called Religious Signs (which sits in my classroom today). For a long while, it collected dust on my bookshelf at college, tucked away as I focused on my music studies. But those words from both my band director and my ASL teacher lingered, and slowly, I began to realize that ASL wasn’t just something I could do— it was something I was meant to do. ASL was part of God’s plan for my life... I just didn’t know it yet. 

Without sugarcoating it, I can confidently say that my first university experience was a rough ride. I was academically struggling in my music classes, failing left and right, with little to no understanding of the courses' content or structure. I remember feeling completely lost, frustrated with myself, and even angry at God for closing the door on something I had been so passionate about: my love for music.

To make matters worse, after two years of constant setbacks, my grades had dropped so drastically that I was asked to leave the university. The shame I felt was overwhelming. I couldn’t bring myself to face many of my loved ones or friends, especially after I had set out with such high hopes of excelling.

After flunking out, I moved back into my childhood bedroom and took a job as a cashier at a local store to pay for junior college classes. But it was there, in the midst of that humbling chapter, that God began to work in ways I hadn’t expected. I started meeting several Deaf customers, and because I knew ASL, I was able to connect with them in a way none of my co-workers could. I was able to engage with them, build relationships, and offer a kind of understanding that made them feel seen.

This nudge from God didn’t stop there. Eventually, I moved on to a small Bible college in Iowa, where I worked another retail job... and yet again, I encountered even more Deaf customers. It didn’t matter what job I had or where I was; God kept placing the Deaf community in my path. It was as if He was reminding me of the gift I had— and that it was meant to be used. 

After spending some time at the Bible college, reality set in: I simply didn’t have the scholarships, financial aid, or funds to keep taking classes there. And just like that, I found myself frustrated all over again. Another door slammed shut?! Seriously?

But in that moment of frustration, something shifted. I realized that, between my decision to major in music composition and later switching to Secondary Education Bible at the Bible college, I had been pursuing paths I thought I wanted, rather than listening to where God was truly directing me.

So, in a moment of clarity, I walked into the school’s chapel, feeling lost and desperate for guidance. I knelt there and prayed, pouring out my heart to God, begging Him to show me the path He had for me. And as I sat there in quiet reflection, it was as if a light went on. Those words from my teachers echoed in my mind: ASL is a gift meant to be used. It wasn’t just a passing interest—it was a calling. And I suddenly understood that every step, every encounter with the Deaf community, had been a sign from God, nudging me toward the path I was supposed to walk.

Later that evening, I picked up the phone and called my parents. As soon as they picked up, I said, “Mom, Dad, I think God is calling me to get a degree to serve in the Deaf community.”

Do you know what they said in response? “It’s about TIME!” 😂

I couldn’t help but laugh, but it was also a relief. After all the years of wandering, it felt like I was finally on the right path. So, just like that, I packed up my things and transferred to a school that offered ASL as a degree. And here’s the funny part: as soon as I made the decision, doors began swinging wide open. I was succeeding in my classes, my finances were miraculously taken care of, and I was making friends along the way— some of whom are still some of my closest friends to this day. But, as it turns out, God wasn’t done testing me just yet. 

Nope! Just when I thought things were finally falling into place, I was hit with yet another curveball. See, one of the requirements for graduating with my ASL degree was a 6-month internship with a Deaf organization. The problem? All the connections the school had were for interpreter internships... and I knew that interpreting wasn’t the path I was being called to take.

So once again, I found myself praying for guidance. I remember sitting in my room, feeling unsure about my next move, and then, not long after, I woke up to an email from my professor. She had found an internship for me— at a Deaf school… in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma?! I thought to myself. The Sooner State? It had never been on my radar. But in the quiet of my prayers, I clearly felt God saying one thing: Go. 

It was through this newfound trust in God’s plan for my life that He began to bless me in ways I never could have imagined. As I leaned into His guidance, my wife and I found a welcoming community in a local Deaf church, and soon after, we were surrounded by many Deaf friends who became like family. And then, the most amazing thing happened—I landed my dream job as a high school ASL teacher. It was a job I hadn’t dared to hope for, but there it was, a testament to God’s timing and faithfulness. 

The first time I heard about this ASL teacher job opening, I wasn't planning to even apply— because, ideally, ASL teaching positions are reserved for native signers because ASL belongs to the Deaf community and it is their language to teach. However, when some of our Deaf friends heard about this particular job opening, they looked at me and asked, "Why haven't you applied already?? Go do it right now!"

The moral of the story? Trust His plan for you. While the path may not always seem clear or straightforward, God’s guidance is never far. He will lead you in ways you can’t always predict, but He will always be faithful to show you the way. Psalm 32 often reminds us that God will instruct us wherever we go, and that truth has never been more real to me than it is today.

Until next time, 

Josh

P.S. Have you ever experienced a time where God seemed to lead you in an unexpected direction? What did you do?

 Leave answers in the comments below!