In the darkness, as I travel along the road of life, I pursue my destination cautiously with an unwavering commitment. The acquisition of knowledge fuels my destination and to prove to myself, that no achievement is impossible. I navigate my vehicle with a strong moral compass. I approach each junction armed with the necessary skills to find my way.

Throughout my journey I have learned that one thing is certain; continual change is the natural state of the highway to progress. Each course adjustment serves as a test of my personal strength. My increasing blindness at a young age stimulated this realization. My resolve to learn modalities. Necessity forced the knowledge of four different braille codes, and a keen auditory perception developed. My acceptance of change turned a restrictive condition into a unique opportunity to continue the journey. Blindness is a characteristic of my vehicle, but it does not define my personality or achievements.

On the highway, each exit rolls by as an enticing escape from my difficult realities. Experience has taught me the enriching benefits of the risks I take. When I was expected to compose a research paper last year, I did not yield to the inaccessibility of the internet for blind individuals. I ventured down the technical road in search of a means and arrived at a nonvisual way to retrieve information. I submitted the assignment, with pride in my tireless effort, after simultaneously engineering the way and traveling the unfamiliar route to accomplish my task. This challenge was a combination of exhilaration and uncertainty that resulted in a sense of personal responsibility.

A constant, forward momentum towards the horizon propels me to these realizations. I am in pursuit of my dream of contributing to society. I envision a day in the words of my English teacher, "When you are recognized for who you are, not for you disability." I seek to prove the feasibility of the American dream for the blind. Despair fills my thoughts for fellow blind individuals that pull into the breakdown lane, or altogether turn off the highway to progress. I aspire to be a disability lawyer, advocating on their behalf to improve the hardships I have endured. I venture on in darkness, believing my journey will straighten each twisting curve to form a less daunting road for the blind to succeed.

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