Meet the 2007 Participants

Terry

Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, Colorado

My life didn’t stop at the point when I lost my sight. Indeed, the loss of sight plunged me into a world full of challenges and difficulties. With the help of my hearing, feeling, and a great mind, I have figured out how to take my blindness and put it under my control enabling me to do anything I put my mind to. I don’t want to go on the Super Inca Trail Workshop for my own benefit – I want to stand as a stepping-stone for other blind individuals.

I lost all of my sight at the age of ten due to twenty-two traumatic eye surgeries that left my eyes full of scar tissue. Activities that were easy when I had my limited sight suddenly became impossible to do. The Super Inca Trail Workshop gives me a chance to challenge myself – not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally and in my confidence as a blind individual.

After my graduation I am going to attend the Colorado University at Boulder to pursue a masters in Aerospace engineering. I have a long time until I reach my personal goal to be the first blind astronaut in space. It is my goal to be a leader for all blind people all over the world.

Everybody can take on a leadership role at any age. My greatest leadership role is a role that I live day and night. I can’t get away from it, nor do I want to. I have learned a lot about how to adapt my blindness and take control of it. That is the leadership role I feel is my lifetime commitment – to stand up straight and show the world that blind people can cope and can do anything they want if they just try with all their might.