[stylist] opinions on my essay, included in this email

Fri Dec 24 20:04:43 UTC 2010

Hello,

The essay is below, and thanks in advance to all for taking a look.

My name is Anita Adkins. I am a blind, nontraditional college student, 
majoring in Elementary Education with a specialization in Language Arts. 
However, my end goal is to work in the field of blindness.
I will share with you my philosophy of blindness, which, in turn, will 
result in my summarizing my history. While growing up in West Virginia, I 
received an excellent academic experience at the West Virginia School for 
the Blind.
As a youngster, I did not receive adequate training in necessary blindness 
skills. However, I possess a spirit of adventure, which enabled me to learn 
many blindness skills through trial and error, though further training would 
certainly benefit me as a blind adult. It was probably due to this and the 
encouragement from the staff at WVSB, who taught me Braille and introduced 
me to a cane,  that I developed a positive attitude about my ability to 
succeed as a blind person. I believe that blindness cannot keep me from my 
goals if I am motivated to reach them, and that I can use alternative 
techniques to accomplish them.
After graduating from high school, I briefly attended college, but I was 
there for others and not myself. Like my sighted family, I wanted the right 
and freedom to immediately walk down to the local grocery store or nearest 
restaurant and obtain employment, a feat unattainable by me as a blind 
person who was untrained and who was dealing with a society acting out its 
negative view of blindness.
Fortunately, in 2001, I obtained employment at T-base Communications, a 
company that produced documents in multiple formats.  While there, I was 
able to proofread Braille and to learn how to create WebPages in order for 
me to test websites for accessibility and usability. Website testing also 
forced me to become very familiar with assistive technology because it is 
crucial to know whether it is the website that is inaccessible or the 
inexperience of the user of the technology. I loved the job because I love 
Braille and I love to learn, but I bumped up against the glass ceiling, so I 
decided to apply at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. I learned how 
to sew at this company. In addition, I volunteered and then obtained 
employment as a Rehabilitation teacher in their Rehabilitation Department 
where I worked with seniors and other students who were blind, teaching 
Braille, computer technology, cane travel, and independent living skills.
A friend and colleague encouraged me to return to school to obtain a degree 
because it would provide a larger income and a wider range of job 
possibilities for me. I loved what I was doing, but I decided to take the 
advice because it enabled me to take wise action toward a future career, 
though I had not yet defined what exactly this career would entail.
Education became my major because I was a teacher already and it seemed the 
logical choice at the time. It was after much frustration and many classes 
that I finally realized that I didn't want to simply teach; I want to step 
into an employment position where I can make a positive impact in the lives 
of the blind.
As I work toward graduation, I educate the world around me by incorporating 
the topic of blindness in my courses, whether it is teaching Braille, 
talking to a group of future teachers about how technology can improve the 
learning experience for students in the general education classroom, or 
writing papers concerning educational placement for blind students. In 
addition, I involve myself in the local Lion's Club and attend local NFB 
meetings when opportunity permits.
After obtaining my bachelor's degree, my future plans are to search for 
meaningful employment in the field of blindness and to begin working toward 
obtaining certification in vision as part of a master's program in Special 
Education.
As a child, I always wanted to be a teacher and a writer, and my degree will 
open up many opportunities for me from teaching students, to researching 
about blindness, to guiding blind students along a career path, to serving 
in the blindness community by speaking about what the blind can do and 
beyond.

Anita
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 24, 2010 2:35 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] opinions on my essay

> Anita, I tried opening your attachment but my computer wouldn't do it. 
> Can you copy and paste your essay below and I'll take a look at it 
> Saturday night or Sunday?  Thanks, Judith
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Anita Adkins" <aadkins7 at verizon.net>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, December 24, 2010 2:11 PM
> Subject: [stylist] opinions on my essay
>
>
>> Hello Everyone.  I am considering applying for the NFB scholarship and 
>> other scholarships for the coming fall semester. I needed to write an 
>> essay that was 700 words or less for the one, and I am wondering if any 
>> of you would mind taking a quick peak at what I have written to tell me 
>> if it sounds okay?  It is attached as an Office 2007 document.  Thanks, 
>> and Merry Christmas to all.  Anita
>> Remember, Jesus Loves You.
>> Anita Adkins
>> 81 E. Mechanic ST
>> APT 207
>> Frostburg, MD 21532
>> p: 301-689-5212
>> c: 301-876-8669
>> aadkins7 at verizon.net
>>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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