Claudia Bogdanowicz, a fourth-year student in the nursing program at Laurentian University, is a recipient of this year’s prestigious Canadian Hearing Services Scholarship.
Every year, Canadian Hearing Services awards 29 scholarships to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. This continued investment in students year after year underscores the Canadian Hearing Services (CHS) unwavering commitment to supporting post-secondary education and accessibility, the organization said in a news release.
Since launching the scholarship program in 2017, CHS has awarded 192 scholarships aimed at helping deaf and hard-of-hearing students break down barriers and pursue their academic goals.
“These scholarships represent empowerment, access, and the belief that these students deserve every opportunity to build bright, successful futures,” said Julia N. Dumanian, president and CEO of CHS, in a news release. “We are proud to continue offering these scholarships as part of our commitment to accessibility, education and community impact. We wish each of this year’s scholarship recipients great success and look forward to the incredible contributions they will make in the years ahead.”
Bogdanowicz is a two-time recipient of the scholarship.
“Without these scholarships, I wouldn’t have been able to focus on my studies, earning better grades than I could without that accomplishment,” she said in an interview. “Instead, I’d be worrying about working enough hours. I’m excited to see what the future continues to hold for me.”
It hasn’t been an easy road for Bogdanowicz, who lost her hearing at the age of four, and received a cochlear implant at the age of five. In an unfortunate twist of fate, English is her second language and losing her hearing at such a young age made the process of learning a new language even more difficult.
“When I lost my hearing as a child, I also lost some ability to speak,” said Bogdanowicz. “I was just beginning to learn English. I can still remember the frustration and pain of trying to communicate. I found having a hearing loss meant that I had to almost ‘make up for it’ by heavily reading facial and
body language.
“I got lucky with lip reading, so group conversations slowly got less lost, while learning what sounds the world makes around me, normalizing it for my brain to process with less effort. So seeing people who struggle to communicate allows me to empathize with them, but also makes it more comfortable and easier for me to try to understand what they are attempting to communicate, which is important in health care.”
Bogdanowicz knew she wanted to enter the medical field at a young age.
“Since middle school I knew I would be in the health-care setting one way or another,” she said. “Many of my family members are in that professional field and I’ve always had a passion for learning. My life path just so happened to land me in the nursing field, and I wouldn’t change it for the world, honestly.
“Since the first week of the nursing program, I’ve really discovered what it means to be a nurse, and it is such an honourable profession to be in.”
Not that there haven’t been challenges for her along the way. The pandemic presented new obstacles. “Masks made it so that I was to understand no one, not even my family members,” Bogdanowicz said. “It felt like all my life’s hard work was not enough to be able to communicate with someone outside of texting and FaceTiming. But life does not give you the easy pathway, so slowly with a retail job, I was able to begin to understand what people were saying, mostly by playing brain jeopardy, until I was comfortable going back to school after taking a year off.
“I adapted enough to be able to communicate with patients in nursing school, but thankfully enough years went by and I am able to communicate with or without a mask.”
Described by Lisa Flowers at the CHS as “a remarkable Sudbury student with a determination to succeed”, Bogdanowicz explained her hearing challenges often cause her to be underestimated.
“When I was young I constantly had to work harder, not just to keep up, but to exceed expectations,” she said. “I didn’t really have the option to give up, all I knew was that I had to try my best every day, because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to show what is possible — not just for me, but for others like me, especially those interested in working in health care.”
A moment that stood out for Bogdanowicz came from an unusual source.
“There weren’t many deaf characters on television or in movies while I was growing up. The first ever deaf doctor televised was in Season 16 of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, and seeing that on screen brought many emotions I didn’t expect to have,” she said.
Bogdanowicz has a unique perspective on communication, one she discovered through her interactions as a member of the deaf community.
“Listening beyond words, also known as nonverbal communication, is so important because sometimes words are not as they seem,” she said. “You can use the term ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ as a more understandable way to look at perspectives the way I do. I am considered ‘hearing passing’ with all the work it took me to be where I am, which means that I get various social exchanges between someone discovering I have a hearing loss or total ignorance.
“Observing others and attempting to put myself in their shoes makes me understand that most people are struggling with something one way or another, and that it does not mean mine is worse or better than others, but rather unique to my own.”
Inspired by other people, Bogdanowicz brings her unique view to those around her.
“I think we, as a humanity, challenge one another and I love how social media and other media allow the spread of stories and experiences. I think it’s a beautiful thing to have the platform that we do in modern technology, being able to connect to people all around the world,” she said. “I love to learn — it is one of my life’s passions. It’s no secret that you can never die knowing all the knowledge in the world.”
Asked what the future might hold, Bogdanowicz said she will continue her studies, and is looking forward to a life in health care.
“After nursing school I plan to take as many opportunities the profession and further education can offer me, with the eventual goal of focusing on women’s health.”
Claudia Bogdanowicz’s words of inspiration
“Reaching your career goals with a disability(ies) isn’t always a straight path — it takes strength to keep pushing when accommodations feel like obstacles. I know the frustration of having to fight for what should already be in place. But remember, the most meaningful accessibility often comes from those living with disabilities or those who love someone who does. Your voice and experiences matter more than you know. Keep going — you’re not just chasing success; you’re changing the system.”
James Stewart is a writer in North Bay. Inspire is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.