about me

Trail Selfie

Visual description ▸ ▾

A close up selfie of a woman with gray and brown hair in braids, wearing glasses and dangly earrings, sticking her tongue out with a playful expression. She wears a maroon t shirt and a backpack with an orange strap, standing on a dirt trail surrounded by dense green woods.

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Jolynn "JoJo" Ferguson

Also known as "Krishnaa Devi" in the yoga world.

My Education

I’m fortunate to have had two worlds: street smarts and an academic journey. Growing up, I moved through many different schools and many different ways of communicating. I went from Deaf schools to mainstream classrooms to community colleges and universities, both private and public, including a Deaf university. My education was anything but ordinary. I learned through ASL, SEE, oral communication, and total communication. Looking back, that variety taught me more than I realized at the time, and it is still shaping me in ways I’m discovering.

My Learning Journey

Some of my most important lessons happened outside the classroom. Growing up, my parents took me to events in many different cities and states: potlucks, Deaf clubs, church gatherings, and Deaf sporting events. Bowling was a weekly tradition, and Deaf people flocked to it every week, whether they bowled or just came to chat. Those gatherings taught me life skills that no classroom did.

I was often dragged along to long meetings, and I found them fascinating. That is where I learned parliamentary procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order at a young age. I also spent years watching Deaf adults hold conversations anywhere in public, which taught me to notice everything happening around me.

Moving between states and cities sharpened that observant side of me. I developed street smarts, strong situational awareness, problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to new environments. I’m good at reading people, navigating social dynamics, and spotting opportunities that others might miss. It also taught me to think outside the box and ask questions. The response I hear most often is, “That’s a really good question. Let me ask around and get back to you.”

Who I Am

I think and feel differently from most people, and I’ve stopped apologizing for it.

For a long time I watched every word, adjusting myself so no one would be offended. I can empathize with almost anyone, but I learned that being careful with everyone else meant not being myself. This blog is where I stop doing that.

Here, I write what I actually think and feel, plainly and honestly. Some of it may not be what you expect, and that’s fine. You don’t have to agree with me to be welcome, but I do ask for the same respect I give: direct, calm, and mutual.

I’ve been through a lot, and it shaped how I see the world. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t quite fit, or tired yourself out trying to, I hope you find something here that feels familiar.