Why we do what we do

By Michael

I am sure that many of you have been in this field longer than my eighteen years, but I have been around awhile and have met some very good colleagues from across America. For one, I am very satisfied with my work, but constantly reminded I could be much higher paid in other fields.

A friend recently finished a two-year certificate program and has passed the exams to become a Microsoft NT certified engineer. Within two weeks, he was trying to decide which of about 15 job offers to accept. He chose this route over a traditional college degree because the demand for such people is extremely high. An article in one computer magazine commented, "If you walk into a job fair with certification in hand, you will be hired in the first 15 minutes."

Nevertheless, we are often contacted by students and teachers who want to arrange an internship for a soon-to-be graduate. What attracts young people to study for a career in service to people with vision loss? Well, what attracted us 18 years ago? Here’s what I think:

• Some of the best people I have met in our field have certain things in common. One of these is a belief that all people should have an opportunity to become whatever they choose.
• Equality in America has to include those persons who begin life with what many would consider a disadvantage.
• Most agree we have only begun to take advantage of modern technology, and that we are in a field that has constant improvements in service.
• All take pride in their consumer’s success and realize they have helped improve their chances of independence.
• Some have a philosophy that the value of your life is what you leave behind. It’s whether or not you touched someone else’s life.

Thanks. And keep up the good fight!