I had applied for the position of Buddy Camp Counselor at Blindness: Learning In New Dimensions Inc, more commonly known as Blind Inc, in the Spring of 2015. It was the last semester of High School, and I didn’t have any concrete plans for the Summer Break. I could not think of anything better to do than give back to a place that gave me the skills that helped to form the person I am today.

The thought of working for the first time was exciting. I was going to be away from home with no parental supervision, and I was finally going to earn a paycheck doing something that I was sure that I would love. However, reality set in when my students arrived.

From the point of view of a student, teaching looks very easy - fun, really. In reality, however, it was a struggle. It didn’t take me long to realize that every individual learns differently, and as a teacher, it is important to be able to present a topic in diverse formats to enable the students to grasp concepts. I also learned that students do not always understand the lesson the first time (or second or third times, even).

When we hit a bump in the road, I taught them that with hard work and determination, we would conquer each challenge together. As each day came to an end, I witnessed my students learn and gain skills that seemed mountainous earlier in the day, which validated that I had done my job well. Through all the peaks and valleys, seeing their successes always outweighed the challenges.

At the end of program, it was hard to say goodbye to my charges, but I came to realize that I was not cut out to work with children, or to teach at all. I was more certain than ever that in my choice for a PreLaw track in college was correct.

As my first year of college ended, I again questioned where I was headed, and began to think differently about my track. At Rollins my professors were amazing, and it was obvious as they went above and beyond for us; they loved teaching. That has made a lasting impact upon me. It was during a meeting with one of my professors this past Spring that I found myself gazing out her office window I and thinking, “I could be a college professor and make an impact on others that would last forever.”