Spotlight: Learning from Our Lefties

SEEK's very own left handers, Jordann Ndoye, Celia Cappozzo, Molly Hug, and Ryan Helzerman

I remember the first time someone told me that I tie my shoes weird. Confused, I asked how so, and after comparing shoe tying approaches with more people than I’d like to admit, I realized that I did do it differently than most, thanks to my left handed parents. It was then that I discovered that there is a right handed way and a left handed way to tie shoes. Who knew?!

In Celebration of International Lefthanders Day (Aug. 13), I wanted to dig into what it’s like to be left handed in a world made for right handers, so I interviewed a few of SEEK’s resident lefties: Molly Hug, Celia Cappozzo, and Ryan Helzerman. 


Q: What is the BEST part of being a left hander? 

“It's a bond my siblings and I share.  We are all left handed, while our parents are right handed.  Also, I remember being told back in the day they tried to force children to use their right hand as it was considered 'wrong' to be left handed.  I've always liked being a rebel!” -Molly

“I like having a tangible marker of being "different".  Since I can remember, I have picked up things differently than most -- I have handled things differently than most.  And that makes me special.  Being left-handed is as fundamental to my identity as gender and religiosity.” -Ryan

Q: What is the HARDEST part of being a left hander? 

“It seems that left handers have to adapt to the mostly right handed world, so things like how a car is designed is for the right hander, desks at school, scissors, that kind of thing.  I don't really mind because learning to adapt quickly and make something work for you is a great lesson for people.” -Molly


“Using credit card payment machines that don't give you any space for your wrist.” -Celia


“In my 40's, this question ceases to be relevant.  In grade school, I couldn't use scissors.  Navigating the use of a computer mouse took more effort.  But these days, lefthandedness is no longer a handicap.” -Ryan


Q: What do you wish people knew about left handers? 

“We are a unique bunch, maybe we use our brains in a slightly different way.  But different isn't wrong!” -Molly

“That our brains are different by design.” -Celia

“We interact with the world by peering through a looking glass.  That gives us tremendous objectivity, as we see the world reflected back at us vs. feeling truly immersed.” -Ryan


Q: What’s your first memory of being left handed in a world of right handers? 

“Scissors in kindergarten.  They didn't work for me and I was very puzzled as to why not.” -Molly

“Playing softball as a kid, being taught to use a bat and buying my first softball glove/mitt.” -Celia

“Being slapped.  I would naturally pick up crayons/scissors, etc. with my left hand and start using them.  There was a period of about 3 months as a toddler when I would get my left hand slapped and the item put into my right hand by my caregivers.” -Ryan


Join us in celebrating this lefthanded holiday by loving on a lefty in your life and thanking them for the unique perspective they bring to our world! (And maybe just don’t bring up anything about them having to use scissors…)

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