Adventures With Deaf Star Wars Fan and Aayla Secura

20/01/2023

Me as a child: "Master Secura?"

Master Aayla Secura: "Yes little one?"

Me as a child: "I was brutally bullied at school today." "One of my classmates punched me in the locker room after gym class and dragged me into the shower." "It was very wet." "He knocked my cochlear implant off my head and it landed in the wettest part of the shower."

Master Aayla Secura: [Gasp] "You're kidding me right little one?"

Me as a child: "No, it really did happen Master." "I laid on the shower floor scared and in pain for an entire class period." "When I was able to get up thankfully my cochlear implant wasn't damaged and I went to my guidance counselor." "He basically didn't believe me." "I called Mom, and we went to the police station to file a police report."

Master Aayla Secura: "Where did he hit you?"

Me as a child: [Tears slowly rolls down cheeks]

Master Aayla Secura: [Hugs me as a child] "Don't cry little one." "Don't cry." "If it weren't for my Jedi way I'd do more then teach that kid a lesson."

Me as a child: "It was so brutal Master Secura." "I was scared for my life." "This is why I wish I was home schooled."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know." "I'm just glad that you aren't in a medical center, and that your cochlear implant isn't damaged." "You handled it in a very Jedi way little one."

Me as a child: [Nods heads] "Yes Master."

Master Aayla Secura: [Wipes tears from Me as a child's face] "I'm so upset to hear about this." "You don't deserve to go through that."

Me as a child: "Thank you so much for treating me so humanely." "You are the only teacher to treat me that way."

Master Aayla Secura: [Smiles] "You are welcome little one." "I care about you very much." "As your teacher it's my job to make sure that you are okay." "I never want to see you hurt." "When you are hurt, I'm hurt." "I want you to be happy and safe."

Me as a child: [Nods head and Hugs Master Aayla Secura]

19/01/2023

Me as a child: [Crying in bed]

Master Aayla Secura: "I'm so sorry about what happened today at school little one."

Me as a child: "My peers accused of doing something that I didn't do and you saw what happened." "I got in trouble with the front office, and they didn't even investigate the incident." "They just reprimanded me without any proof."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know, don't cry little one."

Me as a child: "I vehemently denied the things that they accused me of, but no one believes me Master." "I am all alone Master Secura."

Master Aayla Secura: "My Padawan you are never alone." "I believe you." "I know that you never did any of the things that those kids accuse you of today."

Me as a child: "They are trying so hard to get me expelled from school."

Master Aayla Secura: "I will be honest little one, I think I know what the kids are trying to do." "I'm not happy about it at all."

Me as a Child: "They want me gone Master." "I feel so trapped at school." "I absolutely hate it."

Master Aayla Secura: [Strokes Me as a child] "Hang in there little one." "Trust me I'll never leave your side."

Me as a child: "You are the only teacher that treats me so well Master Secura." "It hurts to get yelled at by my teachers for something I didn't do." "They don't come down to my level." "As a deaf person it's so degrading."

Master Aayla Secura: "My Padawan, you are strong, and I know you can get through this." "You have my absolute trust and confidence in you little one."

Me as a child: "Thank you for telling me that Master Secura." "Thank you for always being such a genuinely compassionate and patient teacher."

Master Aayla Secura: [Hugs Me as a child] "Of course little one." "I understand how hard it is to be a deaf student along with your other invisible challenges." "You are my student, and I will never abandon you because of your deafness or invisible challenges." "You have my word."

19/01/2023

The world needs more people who are like Master Aayla Secura. 😊

18/01/2023

This is one of the most saddest and difficult scenes that I have ever read. This scene really hit me hard. I felt terrible that Master Secura lost her pet. I think this is where she gets a part of her ability to be so empathetic and compassionate because of her own experiences. This scene is one of the major examples why I appreciate Master Secura so much. She's experienced more than the average Jedi. You also learn about the reality of life from this scene. She's so lucky to have a teacher that genuinely helps comfort her during sad and difficult times. I never really had that at all growing up. I will always wish that I had a teacher/mother figure or mentor in my life like Master Secura. That's what I've always wished for since I was little. That wish will never leave my heart. I hope one day my wish will come true. That's my mentality. I don't expect many to understand, but that's okay with me. 😭😭😭😭

18/01/2023

Me as a child: "Master Secura, I need to tell you something."

Master Aayla Secura: "Yes little one?"

Me as a child: "They took away my note taker at school." "I depended so much on his notes." "As a deaf person it's easy to miss what the teacher is saying."

Master Aayla Secura: "Little one relax." "Take a deep breath."

Me as a child: [Takes a deep breath]

Master Aayla Secura: "Very good." "Now tell me what happened?"

Me as a child: "They fired him Master."

Master Aayla Secura: [Sighs] "Ohh, I'm so sorry little one." "I know how much you liked him."

Me as a child: "I need him Master Secura." "He was the only one who treated me so well at school."

Master Aayla Secura: "Do you know why they fired him?"

Me as a child: "They told me it had to do with the school's budget, but I don't believe that's why Master." "They can't take away a deaf student's note taker!"

Master Aayla Secura: "Little one, I absolutely disagree with the school's decision." "That's wrong of them to do." "There should be an IEP meeting about this."

Me as a child: "He was the only one that I had a good bond with."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know little one." "Trust me I do." "You've always said nice things about him."

Me as a child: "We had so much in common Master." "We both loved baseball and Star Trek." "He looked just like Captain Picard." "We even role-played Star Trek together on numerous occasions." "He made school better for me."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know how much he meant to you." "It disgusts me that the school did this to you."

Me as a child: "No other paraprofessional can replicate the things that Mr. Aborn did for me." "I'll never experience that bond again." "They want me to suffer Master."

Master Aayla Secura: [Hugs Me as a child] "Shhh." "Calm down little one." "We have our own bond that's unbreakable." "I promise that I will never abandon you." "We will always be a team." "Never forget that."

Me as a child: "Thank you so much for your support." "This is why I love our peaceful one on one school setting Master."

17/01/2023

A message from Master Aayla Secura: To any mothers out there. If your child is feeling sad or if you just want totake your child on a day trip. I highly suggest that you take your little one on a train ride. Don’t take your child on any train ride, make sure that it's a historical railroad located in a rural area andnot in an urban area like in the city, you’ll enjoy the scenery a lot more. Children will enjoy theexperience of the older trains far more than the more modern ones. Expose your child to trainsas much as you possibly can during their childhood. A child’s experience with trains will foreverbe a part of their childhood memories even in their older adulthood years. I promise that it willbe one of their happiest memories, and that you will put a smile on your child’s face. Riding thetrains are a great way to bond with your child. The moment you arrive at the station, if it’s yourchild’s first train ride, buy him or her a train hat, they’ll absolutely appreciate that. Train ridesare expensive, but the smile and excitement that you will see on your child’s face will besomething you will always cherish. Ensuring your child’s happiness is one of the mostimportant jobs as a mother. Trains are something that always makes a child happy. They area happy part of my padawan’s childhood memories. Do yourself a favor, and build happymemories with your child by taking them on a historical scenic railroad. I promise that you won’t regretit. You and your child will enjoy every moment of it. 😊🤟

16/01/2023

I love this photo so much! I don't care how old I am. Ever since I was little, I've always wished that I had a teacher and/or Godmother with a personality similar to Master Aayla Secura. That would be something that would mean a lot to me, and something that I would cherish so much. Not only is she a great example of a teacher she reminds me so much of Mom(s) in general. She's such an incredibly gentle and strong character. I truly do believe that Master Secura is a great example that has the tools and patience to teach someone who is deaf or with ANY disability. I never had that once in my life really. Mental illness like anxiety, adjustment disorder, and depression is so hard to contend with. We all need someone in our lives who can help us get through difficult times. 🤟

15/01/2023

Me as a child: "Master Secura?"

Master Aayla Secura: "Yes little one?"

Me as a child: "I miss going on the trains."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know that you love trains so much."

Me as a child: "I wish we could go on them more, I love Conway Scenic." "The view over there is just beautiful."

Master Aayla Secura: "I can see how being on trains can be very relaxing for you little one."

Me as a child: "It's one of the things that help me forget the things that bothers me at school." "I love the older ones Master Secura." "I grew up with them the most."

Master Aayla Secura: "Would you really like a day trip to the trains?"

Me as a child: "Yes please Master, I would really like that very much." "I miss going on the Conway Scenic Railroad so much."

Master Aayla Secura: [Smiles] "I promise you we'll go to the trains one day, just you and I little one." "How does that sounds."

Me as a child: [Smiles] "Thank you Master, I truly do appreciate that very much."

Master Aayla Secura: [Hugs Me as a child] "You're welcome little one." "I understand how trains make you and other children very happy."

15/01/2023

Me as a child: "Master Secura, can I talk to you about something"?

Master Aayla Secura: "Of course you can little one."

Me as a child: "As you know anxiety is an issue that many tend to not make a big deal out of, but as you know it has left a rough impact on my life because of what I go through at school."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know little one, but we Jedi have a way of dealing with anxiety." "That's just by simply meditating."

Me as a child: "I know, but do you know what helps me even more sometimes Master?"

Master Aayla Secura: [Chuckles] "Go ahead, tell me little one."

Me as a child: "I love being out and when possible camping with the stars at night." "It's so beautiful."

Master Aayla Secura: "Aw, little one. I totally understand how the universe brings peace to you." "Space is very beautiful."

Me as a child: "It makes me very happy as well."

Master Aayla Secura: "I'm so glad to hear that my Padawan." "Little one you are right, anxiety is something that no one should take lightly."

Me as a child: "Thanks for showing me so much compassion Master Secura." "It really does mean so much to me." "You treat me humanely when others haven't."

Master Aayla Secura: [Warm smile] "I know little one." "That's how all teachers are supposed to treat their students."

Me as a child: "I truly do believe that a lot of teachers and mothers can learn from you Master Secura."

Master Aayla Secura: "It warms my soul that you see it that way little one."

Me as a child: [Hugs Master Aayla Secura] "Thank you so much Master."

Master Aayla Secura: "You're welcome little one.

13/01/2023

Me as a child: "Master Secura, I wish my peers would understand me and listen to me more." "The lack of empathy I have faced throughout my life so far has destroyed my mental health."

Master Aayla Secura: "Little one, I hear you." "There's not enough compassion in this galaxy." "Your struggles can potentially inspire others."

Me as a child: "Depression is so hard to deal with on a daily basis."

Master Aayla Secura: "It's a terrible disease that so many downplay." "People don't seem to understand that depression and other mental health challenges affect a deaf person more than someone who isn't deaf."

Me as a child: "That's true Master." "I think one of the major reasons why people like me within the deaf community are often overlooked when it comes to mental health."

Master Aayla Secura: "You deserve to be heard little one."

Me as a child: "I wish I was treated equally." "It's so hard to get people to look past those with disabilities."

Master Aayla Secura: (Sighs) "Everyone deserves to be treated equally." "I have said this many times, I know what it's like to not be treated humanely, but you have to fight hard to get others to listen to you." "Never give up little one."

Me as a child: "I don't give up, but it's hard to fight to get people to listen to the deaf community because in my experience, so many can be so ignorant towards us."

Master Aayla Secura: "Your frustrations are warranted." "I certainly don't blame you for them."

Me as a child: "You know Master Secura, I wish bringing change for the deaf community was honestly easier."

Master Aayla Secura: "It never is, just like bringing change for twilek women is hard as well."

Me as a child: "I think we relate so well to each other on the struggles of bringing change."

Master Aayla Secura: "Agreed." "Little one, you are the most tenacious student that I've ever had." "Others might not recognize that, but I most certainly do and others will too."

Me as a child: "Thanks Master Secura."

12/01/2023

I love this shirt that I made. On the back is everything on what makes Master Aayla Secura a great teacher. 😊

12/01/2023

Living in a world that in my opinion, struggles to understand people with both visible and invisible disabilities is tough. I've always wished that I could have either a teacher, life coach, or surrogate mother that has a personality like Master Aayla Secura. That would make me so happy. Even better I wish Master Secura was real. As an adult I'm not afraid to admit that. 😞

12/01/2023

I really would like to thank Fantha Tracks for allowing me to write this article. I greatly appreciate it very much. In this article I discuss the difficulties of growing up as a deaf child and presently as a deaf adult. I also discuss my love for Star Wars and how much Master Aayla Secura has impacted my childhood growing up. I was never fully embraced by my teachers and peers growing up. Education was very important to me as a child. Master Aayla Secura is such a happy part of my childhood because she demonstrated examples of how teachers really should be, especially towards those with disabilities. Education is very important for a deaf child, and the lack of acceptance from my teachers and peers had severe consequences for the outcome of my entire childhood. Appreciating Master Aayla Secura as a child or even as an adult now has never been easy in and out of the fandom. Not many expect a male to have such rather unconventional reasons to appreciate Master Secura who happens to be a female character. Despite that, I am not afraid to be open about my appreciation towards the character. I am also not afraid to embrace the things that made me happy during my childhood. Master Secura is certainly one of them. She is such a gentle and strong teacher with a mother's heart. I strongly believe that Master Secura is truly a phenomenal character that people with disabilities can connect with. She has helped me a lot with raising deaf and mental health awareness. My hope is to get others to understand what many of us in the deaf community have to go through growing up at school and as an adult. 😊

https://www.fanthatracks.com/interviews/corey-burrell-hearing-the-force/

Corey Burrell discusses the challenges of being a deaf Star Wars fan.

10/01/2023

I don't care what anyone thinks. I don't care how old I am. No one is going to stop me from being myself. Me and Master Aayla Secura loved this song growing up. 😊

06/01/2023

I really don't have much of a voice in the Star Wars community or anywhere. I miss Nalini Krishan so much. She's the only one that I know who would be able to help me the most with raising deaf awareness through Star Wars. She has listened to me many times going back years into the past. Although we have different stances on a couple of things, I've always appreciated her kindness the most over the years. She has such a big heart and is honestly a very forgiving person. I wish Nalini would understand that I really don't have that much support from the Star Wars community or anyone in general. It's extremely frustrating when so few people especially in the Star Wars community care about the deaf community or want to help us out. Why do people outcast the deaf community out of everything.

I wish that I could have Nalini's, Orli Shoshan's, and Amy Allen's help with raising deaf awareness. That would really mean so much to me. I want them to co-host a podcast with me that's about Star Wars and raising deaf awareness through Star Wars. That would be super therapeutic to me. I wish they all understood that I am suffering so badly in life, and that I wasn't trying to use them or anything. I wish they could all see how difficult life is for me, and that I just wanted their help. If things were better for me, I wouldn't ask for their assistance. I don't understand why it's so hard for the deaf community to find help. We as a society should be caring for one another. Out of all the people in the world we are the last ones on anyone's list to receive help. It's repression! The sad part about it is that people just DO NOT care! Why does society utterly reject those of us within the deaf community?! Nalini, Orli, and Amy have a voice, I don't. Two of them are Moms one of them has a heart of one. I wish they knew how bad life really is for me. 😭

05/01/2023

So I need to be honest. I have never felt that the Star Wars community and universe has been all that inclusive, especially towards the deaf community. I cannot help but feel like an outcast to the Star Wars fandom and society. From my experience the Star Wars fandom along with general society has overall disregarded and refused to collaborate with members of the deaf community. I will admit that it’s not one hundred percent like that. I know that Troy Kotsur was in “The Mandalorian” and because of that everyone probably automatically thinks that the Star Wars universe is suddenly inclusive towards the deaf community. That is really far from the truth. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Lucasfilm very much. It is my dream to one day work for them, as I believe they have the tools to work with those with disabilities. But, in my opinion I find Troy Kotsur’s role as a signing Tusken Raider in season 1 of “The Mandalorian” to be lackluster as it doesn’t leave any significant impact on the deaf community. As a member of the deaf community, I have to be honest about that. LucasFilm can do so much more for the deaf community than what they did with Troy Kotsur’s role in “The Mandalorian”. Star Wars arguably has the largest fan base in all of scifi pop culture and I think it’s time that LucasFilm shows more inclusivity towards the deaf community in the Star Wars universe.

I recently sent out four letters to four high authority figures at LucasFilm and Disney (Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, and Bob Iger) sharing my experiences as someone who has been deaf practically my entire life. In my letters, I express how I honestly feel overall about the Star Wars fandom and universe when it comes to inclusivity towards the deaf community. I also expressed to LucasFilm that it is my dream to work for them and to one day witness a deaf padawan who is the padawan/student of Master Aayla Secura. Something like that should be in the form of a miniseries or a series. That’s something that I have always wished for since I was 9 years old. I will stop at nothing until that happens. Master Secura would be a great teacher for a padawan/student with any disability because of her personality. There’s no reason why a deaf character cannot have a lead role or even their own show in a Star Wars TV series or miniseries. Master Aayla Secura was a very popular character in the expanded universe. She is still popular today throughout the Star Wars fandom. To say that a series or miniseries featuring her and a deaf padawan is just categorically false. The demographics for that would be high and it would change many people’s perspective of the deaf community worldwide. The support base for the deaf community would broaden as well. It could also teach others how to work with those who are deaf. I have also started a letter campaign and sent copies of my letter to LucasFilm and Disney to over a hundred businesses/nonprofits that support inclusivity in the film industry for those with disabilities across the USA. Various Scifi/Star Wars related businesses, comic-cons, public figures, and organizations that support the deaf community are recipients of my letter as well. It is my hope that some of them would be open to supporting my cause. One of my goals is to meet with the executives of LucasFilm and Disney to figure out a way on how to give the deaf community a more significant role in the Star Wars fandom and universe. I care about the deaf community. I am not an elitist that just disregards and forgets those in the deaf community that are like me who are suffering due to lack of inclusivity. I know what it’s like to have my back put against the wall because people refuse to listen, understand, or help those who are deaf like me. I have experienced so much socially in my lifetime that I find many of those experiences to be degrading as someone who is deaf. I am tired of ableism! To those people I say the galaxy is wider than your prejudices.

I really would like to have Nalini Krishan’s, Orli Shoshan’s, and Amy Allen’s help with raising deaf awareness through Star Wars. I would like to do a podcast with at least one of them co-hosting it. All three of them are truly great people. I have always dreamed for them to be my voice since I don’t have one. I still need support for my GoFundMe campaign that I started last year. Neither Nalini, Orli, or Amy are not going to help out for free. Part of the GoFundMe campaign is dedicated to paying them as well. The other reason is so I can meet with LucasFilm’s executives in San Francisco to figure out a way to give a more substantial role in the Star Wars universe. I will not stop until that happens. Something must change for the deaf community.

https://gofund.me/94e018b6

https://gofund.me/94e018b6

05/01/2023

I will be posting a video some time today hopefully. There must be change for the deaf community. I have to be honest about how I feel about the Star Wars fandom and universe when it comes to the deaf community.

05/01/2023

Master Aayla Secura: "Little one, I can sense that you are having trouble sleeping."

Me as a child: "I just feel so anxious Master." "School takes so much out of me, so it's hard to sleep."

Master Aayla Secura: "Trust me I'm aware that you go through so much stress at school."

Me as a child: "Anxiety is so hard to deal with on a daily basis, especially for a deaf student like me." "It is such a difficult mental illness, what's sad is that so many of my peers don't understand this issue."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know that little one, but you need your rest." "How about I read you a book to help you sleep little one?"

Me as a child: "Can you please read me Goodnight Moon?"

Master Aayla Secura: "Of course, little one." "You have to promise me that you'll go right to sleep after I finish reading it okay?"

Me as a child: (Nods head) "Yes Master, I promise."

Master Aayla Secura: (Smiles and starts reading "Goodnight Moon.")

Me as a child: (Starts falling asleep as Master Aayla Secura reads the final page)

Master Aayla Secura: (Strokes Me as a child's cheek) "Goodnight little one, and may the force be with you."

05/01/2023

Me as a child: "Master Secura, this is my early childhood home." "I really miss the late 90s-early 2000s, I was so happy back then."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know those were your happiest moments of your life."

Me as a child: "They were also the most peaceful moments of my life." "I had both my sister and my brother at home 24/7."

Master Aayla Secura: (Smiles) "I'm so happy to know that atleast you have one happy time in your life that you can recall fondly."

Me as a child: "Yes Master, I recall playing Super Mario and Super Star Wars with my sister on Super Nintendo, that was so fun."

Master Aayla Secura: "I know how much your early childhood means to you little one."

Me as a child: "I also remember watching Thomas and the Magic Railroad with Mara Wilson in it." "I also loved watching Toy Story."

Master Aayla Secura: "Little one, cherish all of those happy early childhood memories." "Never forget them." "I don't remember too much about my early childhood like you do."

Me as a child: (Cries) "Master, those days were so much better than now." "I want to go back to that time." "I didn't have to go through bullying." "I went to a school where they understood deaf kids."

Master Aayla Secura: (Hugs me as a child) "Little one, don't cry shhhh." "I know those days were much better for you, but I promise that thing will get better one day."

Me as a child: "I hope so."

05/01/2023

Me as a child: “Master, in general why do so many people in general reject those with
disabilities for any reason?”

Master Aayla Secura: “Well little one we live in a world where people struggle to love and accept one another despite one’s differences.”

Me as a child: “Why can’t there be more people who are accepting of others?”

Master Aayla Secura: “You know my padawan, I think it has a lot to do with how someone is
raised sometimes.”

Me as a child: “You make a fair point there.” “Why are you so different compared to other
teachers, Master?”

Master Aayla Secura: “I think for me it was the upbringing from my master, Quinlan Vos.” “He
was always there for me.” “He showed me compassion and kindness.” “I also know how womenin my race are treated, so naturally I understand how one with differences are treated as well.”

Me as a child: “So is that why you treat me with so much respect Master Secura?”

Master Aayla Secura: “I guess I would say so little one.” “I know what it’s like to be seen as anoutcast to others.”

Me as a child: “If there were more teachers like you Master Secura the entire galaxy would be abetter place.”

Master Aayla Secura: “Trust me, I know.” “I hope that you also understand that no one is
perfect.” “Not everyone has the will to look past others' differences."

Me as a child: “I wish they did.”

Master Aayla Secura: “I’ll be honest, I do as well.”

Me as a child: “Thank you so much Master for treating me so humanely and being so patient
with me when others really haven’t.”

Master Aayla Secura: “Of course, you deserve for others to be patient with you and to be
treated humanely little one.” “Everyone does.”

Me as a child: “You really do set a great example for others.” “You don’t have one mean bone inyou Master.

Master Aayla Secura: “Thank you, little one.”

Me as a child: (Hugs Master Aayla Secura)