Living Left Handed In A Right Handed World
By: Saam Ahmed ’26 Hunter College
In a world predominantly designed for right-handed people, emerged the need for a day to celebrate the ten percent of the population who are left-handed. On August 13th, we celebrate National Left Handers Day, giving the opportunity to shed light on how being left-handed can affect many aspects of life, especially at school and work.
Navigating through this right-hand-centered world, left-handed individuals encounter a series of subtle yet impactful challenges that can shape their educational and professional journeys. From uncomfortable desk chairs and right-handed tools and supplies to the act of writing itself, these seemingly “minor inconveniences” can collectively hinder motivation and productivity. To illuminate these often-overlooked obstacles, we sat down with a local left-hander, Hana Rodriguez ’26, Hunter College, who shared their unique insights and experiences.
“In school, it took me a while to use pens because of how the ink would smudge, plus the friction from writing even gave me a callus on my pinky finger and hurt my hand,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez’s journey into finding a rhythm of writing that worked for her, however, was just the beginning of her challenges as a left-hander.
“When I was learning to crochet it was tough because there weren’t a lot of tutorials online for left-handers. After a while, I had to learn to crochet right-handed,” explained Rodriguez. “I’ve already had to learn to do most of my physical crafting with my right hand, so I’m used to it.” Despite the odds stacked against her in pursuing her passion as an artist who often takes commissions for handmade stuffed animals and crochet creations, Hana found ways to persist and succeed.
Left-handers often have had to find ways to modify right-handed tutorials and pave their own paths. For example, Suha Chaudhury ’23, Baruch College, shared her positive experience, stating, “When I was in third grade my teacher told me that left-handed people are more likely to be creative, so it’s not all bad!” Eileen Makak, Assistant Director for Student Development at Macaulay, also shared “I had to just also learn how to use my right hand for everything, including dancing which meant restarting on my right foot.” These words highlight the unique silver linings that can emerge from the challenges faced by left-handed individuals, exemplifying the resilience and adaptability that can be seen throughout history.
From the brilliant mind of Leonardo da Vinci, renowned for his masterful artworks and scientific discoveries, to the musical genius of Ludwig van Beethoven, left-handed individuals have left their mark on the world. These exceptional individuals exemplify the diverse range of accomplishments left-handers have achieved and serve as a testament to the power of embracing one’s unique traits and showcasing the limitless potential that resides within everyone, regardless of their dominant hand.
From left-handers, we can all broaden our creative horizons and make a more inclusive work environment that inspires creativity in everyone. For starters, Chaudhury and Makak both agreed that there needs to be more left-handed equipment in offices and schools and that more educators need to learn how to teach both left and right-handed students. Left handed people may be forced to undertake unnatural motions or distort their bodies to complete a job due to using furniture or equipment designed for right handed folks. This can lead to neck and back discomfort. Right handers make up a whopping 85 to 90% of the world’s population so we need to make sure we do a better job at including and supporting our left handed peers.
Left Handed Resources: