When I walked into my first HVAC class, the instructor changed our seats.
- I always go to the front of the room because I have a minor hearing problem.
I have hearing aids, but if I’m not in the front, I can’t distinguish between voices. I have had this hearing problem since I was a kid, and I knew what to do to compensate. When the instructor walked into the HVAC class, he moved everyone. We were put according to last names, and I ended up in the back seat. For the first hour, I had no idea what was going on, because I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I didn’t want to say something in front of everyone, but he was accusing me of not listening. When the class was put on break, he stopped me. He asked what was wrong with his teaching? I shook my head. He wanted to know why I wasn’t listening, and told me I couldn’t have the earphones in while in class. I chuckled and told him they were earphones. I was partially deaf and they were my hearing aids. He turned all shades of red, and asked why I wasn’t in the front of the class. Once I reminded him I was until he changed our seats, the HVAC instructor turned an even deeper shade of red. When class was back in session, he moved several of us, so it didn’t look like he was just picking on me. He said they were shiny, happy HVAC faces that needed to be seen more clearly.