ShirleyAllenlovedtosingandplaythepiano.Shestudiedmusicincollegeandher36wastobecomeaconcertpianistorbluessinger.
Everything37whenshewas20yearsold.Shebecamesickwithwhatdoctors 38 wastyphoidfever(伤寒)andshealmostdied.Doctorsgavehermedicinetohelphergetwellbutthemedicine 39 hertobecome 40 deaf.Shecouldnolongerhearthemusicwhichshehadalways 41.
Shirleywouldnevergiveupplayingthepiano 42 shediddecidetochange43.ShetransferredtoGallaudetUniversityandstudiedEnglish.In1964ShirleygraduatedfromGallaudetandlookedfor 44.Shewantedtobe45andworkfull-time.
ForthreeyearsShirleyworkedasaclerkinWashingtonD.C.46in1967shewasaskedtoworkatGallaudetUniversityasadormsupervisor(宿舍监管员).Shirleysupervisedyoungwomenwho47intheuniversityduringtheschoolyear.ShealsotaughtEnglish.Somehowshefoundtimeto48graduateschoolatHowardUniversityinWashingtonD.C.In1972ShirleyreceivedherM.A.degree.
Always49 anewchallengein1973ShirleybecameaprofessoratNationalTechnicalInstitutefortheDeaf(NTID)which50deafandhard-of-hearingstudentstechnicalandprofessionaltraining.
This51womanbecamethefirstblackdeaffemaleintheworldtoreceiveherPh.D.Shemade 52 in1992 53shereceivedthehighestdegreeineducationfromtheUniversityofRochesterinNewYork.
Dr.ShirleyJeanneAllenhastraveledmanyroadsand54manyrainbowssearchingforherdream.Withcourageand55shenevergaveup.