After spending 8 weeks with my cousins in Caracas, Venezuela at age 14, I went home with my parents in Irvington, NJ near Newark, NJ on August 22, 1971. My parents told me that we were flying to Chattanooga, TN one week later. I asked my father why we were going there, and he told me that he got a better job there. They brought the TSD brochure to me. After reading it, I told them that I didn’t want to attend TSD, because I thought that TSD wasn’t impressive. 
     It was time to go with my parents to Chattanooga.  While staying at a motel, we searched for a new house, and met Jeff Saloshin with his mother. Jeff was so excited to see me as a Jewish deaf kid number 2. Then he was shocked when I told him, “Don’t worry about the number of Jewish deaf kids.” while I didn’t realize that he was only one Jewish deaf student at TSD at that time since some Jewish deaf students and I attended Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf (formerly NJ School for the Deaf) in West Trenton, NJ in the past.
     My parents took me to TSD next day for taking an enrollment examination including audiogram, IQ exam, and new student evaluation before the Tennessee Education Act of 1973. While waiting for the results, my parents and I were outside. They met and talked with a few football players such as James Thompson, Marion, Jerry C., and Fred Merriweather, but I was mad, sat on a bench, crossed my arms, and refused to talk with them. Dr. Herbert Byrd, Child Study Specialist, called my parents and me to his office. My parents were informed that the result was B-; therefore, I was allowed to enroll as a new student.  My parents were so excited but I said to myself with my teenage attitude that there was no big deal.
     On November 1st, my parents and I met with Dr. Byrd in a main building at TSD. Then Dr. Byrd introduced me to Warren Flower, Principal; and Frances Randall, Teacher Supervisor. I was a little shocked when Ms. Randall told me that I was required to use fingerspelling in my classes. When Ms. Randall and I walked to her office for taking the SAT exam before assigning me to a specific class, I saw Alvin Ewin saying that I looked so lousy. After school, I asked Alvin why he thought I was so lousy but he was speechless. Next day, Ms. Randall put me into Ms. Barbara Flower’s homeroom class with Melody France, Jayne Swafford, Janet Stewart, Nancy Swicegood, Jackie Solomon, Michael Mooneyhan, Henry Coleman, Phil Beam, and Steven Manning. I was a little homesick for a while, and I had a difficult adjustment on how to deal with the Southern people for a few first years. 
     Finally, I saw most of my former NJ classmates again in August 2006 after I had not been seeing them for 35 years. I admitted and apologized to them that I didn’t treat them well before moving to Tennessee, because I learned from TSD. They forgave me and were happy to see me again. One of my classmates asked me which school was better. I answered her that they were different. I told her that I thanked TSD for the following things:
     1) The football team made me being tough instead of being sissy. 
     2) My attitude had improved.
     3) My mathematics skills soared.
     4) My leadership skill was developed.
     5) I made new friends and had their support.

     I told her, “I am really glad that I attended TSD.” What TSD did to me would never be forgotten for the rest of my life.

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