One thing that cochlear implant technology provided for me was safety and confidence. Prior, I wouldn’t have heard or felt someone running behind me in a dark parking garage. Not that I couldn’t have been perfectly fine moving away earlier but I stayed near home for college and graduate school. For family, familiarity and my parents had more peace of mind. Post CI and learning how to be with it/utilize it my confidence skyrocketed. In public, in the world - I was the same Michelle how my parents and close friends knew me. I started chatting on the phone - something I previously hated and only did with my mom. Over a decade later I’m much more strong in my deaf identity. No regrets - cochlear implants are NOT for everyone, but it’s worked out pretty well for me. VD: Michelle hair down with a green/gray sweatshirt sitting in the airport. Transcript: If I hadn’t gotten a cochlear implant in 2008 when I was a 3rd graduate student, I’m not sure I would have been able- or wouldn’t ha...