Hello, My name is Savannah. I am 4 years old. I love to play with my dog, Pepper, when I am home. Soon I will be starting school.

This is my mom, Ashley. She calls me Vannah Banana. She is my very best friend. 

Savannah, where are you?

Sometimes when my mom calls my name, it's hard for me to hear her. This can be scary for me.

Thankfully my mom found me a little device that helps me to hear more clearly. This is called a hearing aid. I can make her louder or softer. It slips on to my ear and allows me to hear more like you. 

When I'm home I don't always have to use my hearing aid. My mommy taught me how to speak with my hands. This is called sign language. 

This is what I use to learn my letters. There is a whole new language for me to learn.  This will help me communicate better in the classroom. Though it is helpful, it can be discouraging at times.

Thankfully when I am sad or discouraged, I have my mom by my side. She always gives me words of encouragement. 

Mommy, what if no one wants to be my friend because I speak differently than everyone else?

Being different is not always a bad thing, Vannah. Being different makes you unique. 

Before I started class, I got to meet my teacher. Her name is Mrs.Honey. She is so pretty and so nice. When we first walked in, she welcomed me by signing my name. I hope my classmates are as nice as her.

Although I was scared for school to start, meeting Mrs.Honey made me feel more prepared and excited to be in her class. I may not be like every other kid, but that is ok.

When I woke up in the morning,  I felt scared again. What if they make fun of me for being different? What if they don’t want to be my friend?