[Tn-talk] Fwd: My Path to Leadership through the National Federation of the Blind’s National Conventions

[James Alan Boehm]

James Alan Boehm
jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com



> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Jimmy <jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com>
> Subject: My Path to Leadership through the National Federation of the Blind’s National Conventions
> Date: July 19, 2016 at 5:16:37 PM CDT
> 
> My Path to Leadership through the National Federation of the Blind’s National Conventions
> NFB  /  dtrevino
> 
> Blog Date: 
> Tuesday, July 19, 2016
> From the Editor:
> 
> Rounding out our series of posts from our summer interns is one from Jared Nylen. Jared comes to us from Iowa and in this post, he writes about what it's like to learn and grow within the Federation through attending national convention. 
> 
>  
> My journey to the National Federation of the Blind started with an idea, the idea of a national convention. In looking back at myself at the age of twenty, I marvel that I had the opportunity to attend the NFB convention. For me it was one of many firsts. It was my first time going to Florida; it was my first time going on an airplane by myself; and it was the first time I spent a large amount of my own money. Perhaps most important, it was the first time I had ever seen over 2,000 blind people in one place living the lives they wanted. That first convention gave me the hope and determination I needed to transform my own dreams into reality. For the first time I felt like I fit in and that I had a purpose in being there. It was the first time I had ever truly felt comfortable with my blindness. I was able to meet many people who were just like me, and they did not let their blindness define them. That feeling of belonging is what has kept me in the organization.
> 
> My first convention was a turning point for me because I found out what it meant to be involved with the National Federation of the Blind. Soon after that first convention I started to become even more involved on a local level. I was elected to our state board in Iowa; less than a month later, I started a chapter in Cedar Rapids where I am still the president today. One of the most important things I have found is that I have the greatest impact by being a mentor. At last year’s national convention I was a mentor for three students who attended the convention for their first time. I was able to help them learn about the Federation. I did not know beforehand, but learned that by me helping them, they helped me learn about the Federation in new ways.  
> 
> As I write this blog, I am two weeks out of my fourth consecutive national convention, and I am doing a lot of reflecting on how the conventions have impacted my life. Every day in the National Federation of the Blind we raise the expectations of people who are blind. Before my first convention I had no real expectations, but while I was there I discovered that there were expectations that I needed to adopt and raise on my own. Each year at our national convention, as I learn more about myself and the Federation, I find myself raising my own expectations. What is next? How can I help build the National Federation of the Blind of tomorrow while working with the Federation of today? As I meet new expectations, I continue to strive to be better than I was yesterday.
> 
>  
>  
> Posted in: 
> General <https://nfb.org/vonb-categories/general>
> 
> Original Article: https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/my-path-leadership-through-national-federation-blind’s-national-conventions <https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/my-path-leadership-through-national-federation-blind%E2%80%99s-national-conventions>
> 
> 
> James Alan Boehm
> Phone: 901-483-1515
> Personal Email: jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com <mailto:jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com>
> Refer NFB correspondences to:
> secretary at nfb-tn.org <mailto:secretary at nfb-tn.org>
> 
> "Blindness never limits- Low expectations do! Live the life you want!"