202 Deaf Epistemologies, Identity, and Learning
positive relationships. positive psychological techniques that are known to increase
happiness include feeling grateful, using strengths, being open to new experiences,
dealing with the past and the future, and doing good deeds.
In the life stories that I collected as part of my research process, these elements
come to the forefront as cultural resources that can be acquired at Gallaudet.
International deaf people explained that their stays at Gallaudet changed their
lives. Their minds were opened because they were exposed to a lot of new informa-
tion, were able to meet both deaf and hearing people from various backgrounds,
were provided with new opportunities, received support and encouragement, and
discovered strengths and abilities. They were able to do things and take on new
roles that would not have been possible at home. They all reflected on the transfor-
mations in their lives that resulted from the widening of their range of options and
the broadening of the scope of their dreams for the future.
In response to this process, these international deaf people expressed gratitude
to supportive family members, friends, and teachers, as well as to God, for being
able to come to Gallaudet and for this positive shift in their lives. passing on knowl-
edge, sharing experiences, and championing peers as they strove to realize their
dreams and achieve success in their endeavors were also highly valued.
The concept of “the wisdom of the deaf community” advanced by Markku
Jokinen (2000) fascinated me during my research. Jokinen did not define the
concept in his paper, and although I had some intuitive understanding of this
concept, my questions required further theorizing and reflection. Stinckens and
Leijssen (2004) define wisdom as “the ideal or highlight of a development in
which sharp insight meets the right action. Wisdom is an integrated approach
of life, in which theory and practices, knowledge and action, and cognitive and
affective aspects are balanced” (p. 9, translation by GDC). Wisdom is developed
as the result of facing crucial emotional, interpersonal, and existential dilemmas,
particularly in complex and ambiguous situations and life challenges, and it is
related to the articulation of responses that go beyond personal interests in one’s
orientation toward the well-being of others. Ardelt (2000) makes a distinction
between the acquisition of knowledge and the growth of wisdom: Intellectual
knowledge and wisdom are different, as are the learning processes for each. Wis-
dom is oriented toward gaining a better understanding, rediscovering old truths,
knowing and controlling your inner life, knowing how to deal with uncertainty
and serendipity, and knowing whether you should act. people develop wisdom by
experiencing life. Wise people realize that there is much that they do not know
and therefore treat others with empathy and compassion.
In a study on how wise people in the West dealt with obstacles, Ardelt (2005)
found that the responses were in line with Eastern traditions of wisdom: “They per-
ceived the past with gratitude, tried to be of service in the present, and were aware
of the responsibility they had toward the future” (p. 18).
Hence, perhaps it is not surprising that Danilo found inspiration for his persever-
ance in his mother’s strong advocacy for his education; that Leticia mentioned the
role of her family in her personal empowerment; and that international deaf people
at Gallaudet not only mentioned deaf role models such as Andrew Foster, who in