Michael's Story: College and Career Readiness

Michael is an 18-year old heading to college to major in music. His goal – teaching music and becoming a choir director. Michael is blind, able to see only a little light and contrast.

Michael’s endeavors in music are recent, but his talent is obvious. In high school, equipped with only what Michael describes as a “fascination in music,” Michael starting singing and playing guitar, ukulele and piano. He learned how to read braille music from his vision teacher at school, and he plays by ear. He now performs and writes music. All this was enough to win him admission into a competitive college music program at Bemidji State.

Michael says he has always had a lot of determination in his life. The advice he would give to other teens is, “Don’t give up.” For instance, if he is struggling with something in his music, he says, “I will not stop trying until I get it.”

About the Lighthouse Michael says, “The Lighthouse has taught me skills I know I’ll always need.” In particular, he says his independent travel skills have “really improved.” “I’ve learned more proper cane techniques, skills I’ll need to rely on when living on my own.”

Michael participated in three Lighthouse summer camps, the Lighthouse school-year transition program, and four weeks of individualized training at the Lighthouse after his high school graduation. Michael says he learned more about cooking on his own, as well as technology skills. “My technology skills were pretty good, but I’ve learned more.” Among the technology skills he has learned at the Lighthouse – audio editing – certainly an important skill for an aspiring musician and a motivating way for him to learn other technology skills.

“I would not be where I am now” without the Lighthouse, Michael says. “I don’t think I’d be ready for college or living on my own.” -Michael

As a celebration of his accomplishments, Lighthouse Transition Program Manager Chris Correia – also a certified Tae Kwan Do instructor and 5th degree Black Belt – taught Michael how to break a board with his bare hand. The picture attached shows Michael holding the broken board, with his father looking on. Said Michael’s father, “This is all so awesome.”

Instructors confirm that Michael was a bit shy and less independent when they started working with him a couple of years ago. They now describe him as “very motivated,” “more social” and “looking to the future.”