On Friday, January 22, Highland high put on its annual Talents and tradition assembly. Kaylee Mickelsen, one of the dozen performers, did something no one has ever seen before. She sung a mixture of four songs, not using her mouth, but singing and telling a story with her hands.

Mickelsen wanted to show that even the people who cannot speak or hear, can certainly talk. Not being deaf herself, Mickelsen showed the audience something that gave everyone,including myself, a little hope. She used ASL to show the crowd that, “You can do something beautiful onl using your hands.”

Everyone knows the most dominant languages; English, Spanish, French and even German. Yet no one quite pays attention to those languages used without words. ASL is used within the community of people who cannot hear, speak, and in some cases, both. This uncommonly known language is used to portray word without having to open your mouth.

Watching this performance from the front row, I was up close and personal with Mickelsen’s facial expressions and actions. She showed sadness, happiness and even anger in the songs she signed. She told a story of love with the movements of her hands. The songs that were played were all sung by the artist P!NK. Songs that characterize wanting to give up, but fighting through the pain and damage of the things around you, to come out stronger. These were an excellent choice of lyrics to show to the audience in a different form of words. To me, ASL is just like the P!NK songs Mickelsen performed to. Even though she can hear and speak just fine, she gave the crowd a glimpse of a different life. Something that people struggle so hard with, can be turned into such a positive thing.

“You can show movements, and what you’re trying to say, without speaking,” Mickelsen said. “I believe that sometimes body movements and facial expressions can be more moving and powerful than the simple words we use everyday.”

I believe Mickelsen gave an outstanding performance that should be remembered as one of the best that day. Think of something you could do, using something as simple as your own two hands, to create something spectacular.