[Nfbf-l] submitting my name as a candidate for the position of Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida.

[peter cerullo]

On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 3:06 AM Jeanette via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Dear NFBF family:
> My name is Jeanette Torres and I am writing to submit my name as a
> candidate
> for the position of Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of
> Florida.
> Below is a brief bio for you to consider. If I were to describe myself in
> one word, it would be "persevering." I work hard until I achieve what I
> need
> to achieve. I remain committed to a desired goal, and I am willing to
> invest
> the necessary time and effort to succeed. I do not give up easily and I
> persevere when confronted with obstacles. My passion to succeed inspires
> others to follow through and reach the goals they set for themselves. I
> motivate others through my dedication.
> I was born with retinopathy of prematurity, making me totally blind. I am
> currently thirty-eight. I was born in Santuse, Puerto Rico and I moved to
> Tampa, Florida when I was two because there are more opportunities for the
> blind here. I was mainstreamed in public schools. Currently I continue to
> reside in Tampa Florida. I attended the University of South Florida where I
> earned a degree in criminology and am currently looking for an either job
> in
> my field of study, IT Help Desk work, or advocacy for the blind.
> Some of my interests include advocating for blind people, dogs, Martial
> Arts, playing the Violin, Playing Play-by-post role-playing games,
> Listening
> to music, reading, Socializing with friends, Troubleshooting PC and iPhone
> problems, PC Maintenance, Video gaming, Watching movies, Watching
> television, and Web surfing.
> After hearing about the NFB Training Centers while messaging with someone
> online in 2010, I tried to find a way to get my VR Agency to take me as a
> client so I could get training. With the help, advice and support of Anil
> Lewis, as well as the persistence of Pam Allen, in 2016 I attended and
> graduated from the adult training program at the Louisiana Center for the
> Blind. While in training, I increased my reading speed in Braille, was
> taught cane travel, and was taught home management skills. I was also given
> the opportunity to attend in person my first national convention. Growing
> up, I had no exposure to successful positive blind role models. The blind
> people I knew would engage in habits such as excessive rocking and eye
> poking, had low expectations placed upon them, and were immature. I did not
> know any blind people who were working successfully as scientists, lawyers,
> teachers, or businessmen. I did not know anyone who could help me unlock my
> potential by showing me strategies they used to do their job as well as
> their sighted colleagues. There was no one who could help me see that it
> was
> truly possible for me to live the life I want. I had no blind community
> that
> I could turn to for support. However, while in training at the Louisiana
> Center for the Blind, I discovered the value of the Federation. For the
> first time I realized that, I am not alone. I have a network of people just
> like me. They not only understood the challenges I faced, but also lived
> and
> overcame some of the very same issues I had been struggling with every day.
> After listening to the audio stream of the National Convention in 2015, I
> had developed a passion for the legislative efforts of the Federation,
> which
> drove my interest in pursuing advocacy and policy on behalf of blind
> people.
> I have been discriminated against and overprotected for the majority of my
> life and people have tried to close doors on me but I try not to let them
> succeed. My own struggles had created in me a deep personal desire to
> ensure
> that no more blind people would be prevented from achieving their dreams as
> I was. For me, advocacy for the blind is not merely an aspiration; it is a
> personal passion. I want to be a part of it. I think the blind of the
> future
> should have opportunities that I did not have, and they should have another
> blind person working with them and fighting for them. Here is an
> organization in which I could help to fight discrimination and increase
> opportunity for all the blind. I could participate actively in this
> movement
> for civil rights and equal opportunity. I've gone to Capitol Hill, meeting
> with our representatives in Congress advocating for Rights for the Blind.
> We must change the attitudes of both the public and the agencies doing work
> with the blind. This is why I'm part of the Federation. This is why I give
> to it all that I can.
> I have been a part of our Federation family a little over a year now. I am
> a
> proud NFB member, and I love working to continue changing what it means to
> be blind. I'm also so proud to be among such driven individuals. The
> National Federation of the Blind has been enormously helpful in my life so
> I'm looking to have an opportunity to give back. Success starts with
> learning and growing so let's go build the Federation. I am excited and
> humbled to work with so many other intelligent, and passionate blind people
> to continue raising the expectations of blind people. I am ready to build
> the Federation so all blind people can live the lives we want! I look
> forward to working with all of you to transform our dreams into reality!
> Please consider voting for me as a member of the Florida state board on
> Monday morning at convention.
> Sincerely,
> Jeanette Torres
>
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