Chance's other job

Chance's job helping to teach little kids to swim has come to an end.  He literally became the best buddy of a little boy in the class who would go to no one but Chance.  He asked Chance on the last day of class if he could give him a hug.  His grandparents and parents told Chance that he was a household topic of conversation at their house because the little boy just loved him and was always talking about him. Chance really liked his job and was good at working with the kids. Maybe he'll apply to be a swim aid again next year.

Chance waiting for his next group of students

In the meantime.....Chance got another job!  He had turned in an application to be a soccer ref for the city leagues when he turned in his application for the swim aid job.  He got a call back on that application a few weeks ago.  When the lady called about the job, she called out of the blue and Chance didn't know who he was talking to and he didn't have any context at first about who was calling.  Because of this, Chance's naturally chipper disposition didn't come through and he was more mechanical on the phone.  The lady calling didn't get a real feel for Chance's personality over the phone which can make a difference when they want someone who is cheerful and good at working with kids.  She called him in for an interview anyway, and I sent Chance into the rec center while I waited in the parking lot.  He came back out about 25 minutes later with a new hire packet.  Linda really seemed to like Chance and she paired him up with another 14 year old boy to coach the first soccer game who happens to be a friend of Chance's from his competitive soccer team.

Linda called our home to talk to Chance a few days later and the captions weren't working so he was having a hard time understanding her.  Chance's dad got on the phone and explained that Chance was having a hard time on the phone that day due to the lack of captioning and could he relay the message.  Then Linda said,"I didn't realize Chance was deaf!"

Chance's implants were obviously not the first thing she noticed about Chance during the job interview.  She didn't seem to notice them at all.   When Chance first went into interview, I remember thinking that I hoped whoever interviewed him realized that he was fully capable to ref soccer and that his deafness would not interfere
with his ability to do that at all.  Apparently, my wish was granted as Linda didn't even realize that Chance was deaf.

Chance wears a pin on the backpack he takes to work that says,"Ask me about my implants." Obviously he is not shy about talking about them.  I just want people to see Chance for who he is and not focus on what they think he might not be able to do because he is deaf.  Apparently, people are doing just that:)

Chance getting wild and crazy with his brother and cousins.