My name is Robin Patche, and I've been blind my entire life in varying degrees. However, this fact has not prevented me from being a very accomplished and successful individual. Currently, I attend the California School for the blind, and am learning Braille, and other necessary skills that will allow me to achieve my long-term goals, which will be in the fields of animal care or recreation.
I pride myself on being very energetic, and have an enormous amount of enthusiasm for life. I really love to help people, and showcase this in my interactions with others. I think my best qualities are my leadership skills, and my ability to relate and organize others. I know I still have a lot to learn, but these areas are things that I feel I do well, and have allowed me to have many opportunities.
In the past, I've participated in the Transitional Youth Summit, the career fair at the California School for the Blind, and the Braille challenge. All of these events have afforded me experiences to grow, and develop my abilities and knowledge for the future.
Last summer I did the STEP program in Los Angeles, and the past 3 summers I've participated in the Society for the Blind's summer youth retreat. All of these summer programs have allowed me to gain confidence and network with both adult and blind individuals that will help me in the future. I know the blind mentors that I have worked with have really added to my overall self-esteem and confidence levels.
This summer I will be extremely busy. I am doing a modified version of the Youth Employment Program Business Enterprise Program for 5 weeks. I will serve as an assistant to the program, and help the younger kids with their basic skills on the job, and also do more of the administrative work with the Program's Director from the Society for the Blind in Sacramento. Following this internship, I will be a counselor in Training at the Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa. I will be working with the Elementary aged youth, and I know this will be a lot of fun doing recreational activities with all of them in Napa and helping the main counselors watch all of the children. Once this job has ended, I will then go on a week long mission's trip in Northern California. This trip is all about building: building homes, building communities, building bridges between people and cultures, and building a relationship with God. We do this on an Indian Reservation for one week. During this project, I am the only one who is Visually Impaired. I am proud of being a representative for blind youth. I like to show people that not all visually impaired people are that different but that we can do the same things they can do just a little differently.
The rest of my summer is just as full. I'll also be serving as a junior counselor at the Society for the Blind Summer Youth Retreat for 2 weeks. I'll be doing fun activities with the youth during this camp too, but also be focusing on technology, and other living skills that I will impart to the younger kids. Immediately following this last internship of my summer, I get to be a kid, and attend the high school session at Enchanted Hills camp. I will love just relaxing and hanging out with my friends for a week, and enjoying all the friendships and other traditions we have created over the last years I have been attending.
My summer vacation will then be coming close to the end, but my family will be hosting a foreign exchange student for the next year. She is from Germany, and will be with my family. I know this will be a great opportunity for my family to learn more about her, and for her to learn more about blindness, and things that we do in America. Then, it's back to school in Fremont, and continuing to prepare for my future. I know this busy summer of mine will pave the way for some amazing opportunities for me, and I can't wait to see what they just might be, but I know this whirlwind summer of mine is one I'll never forget, and I hope these highlights will inspire you all who are reading to do something, unique, creative, and out of your comfort zone.
Robin Patche
August, 2008