WPHS senior Julia Vieira's ASL TikTok videos earn notice from upstate college

White Plains High School senior Julia Vieira turned her passion for creating American Sign Language content on TikTok into a standout moment in her college journey.

Julia, who is not deaf, received a glowing acceptance letter from the University of Rochester in the upstate New York city, which is known for its large and vibrant deaf community because of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

Over the course of a single school year, Julia has immersed herself in American Sign Language, transforming a class elective taught by Conniree Francis into a creative outlet that is now shaping her future.

“It just really interested me,” she said. “I loved the way it was another way to communicate — another way to connect with others.”

Julia’s journey with ASL began in September, when she enrolled in her first class after completing AP Spanish. Already bilingual — Spanish her first language, English her second — she saw ASL as an opportunity to expand her abilities even further.

That curiosity quickly turned into action.

As college application season approached, Julia began thinking about how to stand out.  

Under the TikTok account “Sign Language with Julia,” she began creating short videos translating songs and everyday phrases into ASL. What began as an experiment soon gained traction, including one video that reached a whopping 1.3 million views.

“I was like, why not? It seems fun,” she said. “And it just kind of grew from there.”

Today, Julia has more than 2,600 followers, 43,000 likes and a growing library of videos — ranging from music translations to seasonal posts and conversational signs. Just as important, she says, is what she’s learned along the way.

“It helps me learn as I go,” she said. “I’ve connected with deaf creators online. They give me advice, correct me sometimes — and it just helps me improve more.”

Learning ASL has challenged Julia in new ways, particularly its unique grammar and reliance on visual cues.

“It’s very specific,” she explained. “The structure is different from English, and you have to think about how to say things in a different order.”

Equally important are facial expressions, which carry meaning in ways spoken language does not.

“You can’t just sign without emotion,” she said. “Your face shows what you’re trying to say — whether it’s a question, excitement, sarcasm. That’s one of the first things I learned.”

That visual nature of ASL has also deepened her awareness of the deaf community and the barriers they face.

“I never really thought about it before,” Julia said. “But they have to adapt to a world built for hearing people. It should be both ways. We should meet each other halfway.”

Her work did not go unnoticed. In her acceptance letter to Rochester, admissions officials singled out her ASL content creation.

“We are thrilled by the perspective, talents, and energy you will bring… because your initiative and commitment to promoting inclusivity is reflected in your work as an ASL content creator,” the letter read.

“It felt really special,” Julia said. “I know it’s rare for them to say something like that.”

She also received a substantial scholarship and plans to attend Rochester, where she will major in biological sciences with a focus on cell and developmental biology, while minoring in ASL.

The university’s strong deaf community — something she studied in class — only reinforced her decision.

Julia hopes to become a pediatrician, and she already sees ASL as an essential part of that future.

“I really want to connect with my patients and make them feel comfortable,” she said. “There aren’t enough people who can communicate in ASL in medical settings.”

Her experience volunteering at a local hospital — where she often helped Spanish-speaking patients — opened her eyes to communication gaps in healthcare. ASL, she realized, presents an even greater challenge because it requires visual interaction.

“You can’t just use a phone,” she said. “You have to see it.”

That realization has sparked a deeper interest in researching how deaf patients navigate healthcare systems and how those systems can improve.
Julia’s path has not been without obstacles. She has managed various health problems  during her high school years, challenges she says made her experience more difficult at times.

But with support from school staff and outside care, she found stability and direction.

“It’s made my life much easier,” she said.

A first-generation American raised by a single mother who immigrated from Peru, Julia credits her family for instilling resilience and determination. She attended Church Street Elementary School, and Eastview and Highlands middle schools before arriving at White Plains High School.

Now, as graduation approaches, she is looking ahead with confidence and purpose.

“I never thought it would come this fast,” she said. “But I’m excited.”

Julia said she plans to keep creating ASL content through the summer and into college, continuing to build both her skills and her audience.
For her, the goal goes beyond social media.

“I want to talk to more people, learn about different cultures, different perspectives,” she said. “ASL is just another way to do that.”