Kat’s Corner: The Opportunity That Changed Everything How on Earth Did This Happen? If someone would’ve told me that I would be reflecting on my first year at an actual job in the summer of 2026 (and not just any job, but a position that literally fits my life perfectly), I would ask, “How on earth did this happen?” Like many young adults, I was thinking about what kind of work would fit my life, my strengths, and my goals.
The beginning of this journey actually started during a conversation with my college case manager. As we were discussing opportunities that aligned with my interests, goals, and experiences, she noticed the EMPOWER VI student advisory board and encouraged me to reach out and learn more. At first, I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure what to expect or whether I had something valuable to contribute. However, my teacher encouraged me to take that first step and reminded me that my experiences and perspective mattered. With that encouragement, I decided to send an email and start the conversation.
That email led to a Zoom call with members of the EMPOWER VI team, where I was able to share more about myself, my experiences, and my interest in being involved. Before I had even officially joined the student advisory board, one of the team members reached out to me and continued to stay connected. They would share things they came across that they thought I might find interesting or relatable, which helped me feel welcomed and showed me that the team was interested in getting to know me beyond just my involvement with the advisory board. Those early conversations were the beginning of the relationships that would eventually become such an important part of my experience with EMPOWER VI.
After joining the student advisory board, I continued contributing and building relationships with the team. About a year later, someone from the EMPOWER VI team heard about my contributions to the student advisory board and reached out to me about the opportunity to join the team. The opportunity was presented as a paid, part-time position where I could continue contributing my experiences to help inform the materials, resources, and research the team was creating.
Instead of simply completing tasks, I would be able to provide feedback, share ideas, contribute examples from my own experiences, and help make sure that the resources being developed were meaningful and useful for students, families, and professionals. When I learned more about the opportunity, it immediately stood out to me because it combined so many things I cared about: advocacy, accessibility, writing, research, and helping others through my own experiences. What made that moment feel jarring was that I truly did not see it coming. Before this opportunity, most of my responsibilities had been connected to school, personal growth, and preparing for my future. I was used to being a student, participating in projects, and sharing my experiences, but I was not expecting those experiences to quickly turn into a professional opportunity. The transition from contributing as a student to being considered for a role on a professional team was something I had not anticipated, but at the same time, something about it felt right.
A Job That Fits My Life One of the most important parts of this opportunity for me was the flexibility. Having a fully remote position made a huge difference, especially as someone with a visual impairment, where transportation and accessibility can be significant challenges. Being able to work from home and also have flexibility in how I structured my time made the job feel more accessible and manageable. It allowed me to focus less on barriers and more on the actual work itself.
Even more than that, I was excited that the role connected directly to things I enjoy doing. A big part of my work has involved writing and creating content, which are areas I’ve always felt drawn to. Over time, my responsibilities have included reviewing EMPOWER VI lessons and website content, providing feedback, writing journal entries and articles, creating and narrating research briefs, and contributing my perspective through lived experience.
When I talk about contributing my perspective through lived experience, I am referring to my experiences as a young person who is visually impaired and who is currently navigating the transition into adulthood. Since EMPOWER VI focuses on creating resources for transition-age students with visual impairments, their families, and professionals who support them, I am part of the very group these resources are designed to help. My experiences with education, transition services, assistive technology, accommodations, and becoming more independent allow me to provide insight into what resources feel helpful, what questions students may have, and what information could make a difference during this stage of life.
Being able to share those experiences helps ensure that the materials being created are not only informative but also meaningful and relevant to the people who will actually use them. Being able to use my voice in that way has been one of the most meaningful parts of the job.
Learning Something New Every Day Through Support Getting Started Starting my first job was both exciting and nerve-racking. Since this was my first official employment experience, I was curious about how I would show up in a professional setting and what it would be like to take on the responsibilities of being an employee. I wondered how I would balance work responsibilities with school and my personal life, and whether I would be able to meet expectations in a new role. There was also the natural uncertainty that comes with trying something new and wondering what would happen if I came across something I did not know how to do. However, as I started working, that uncertainty quickly faded. I was barely ever intimidated because, from the beginning, I felt welcomed and supported. Everyone on the team was willing to explain things, answer questions, and provide help whenever I needed it. There was never pressure to already know everything. Instead, there was patience and encouragement that made learning feel possible.
One of the moments that still makes me smile is when I think about how convinced I was that I was never going to be a Microsoft Office person. Before this job, I used Google Docs for practically everything, and it was the only system I really felt comfortable with. Microsoft Office felt unfamiliar, and I honestly didn’t see myself using it in my everyday work. What helped me the most during that time was the support I received while learning new tools and navigating new responsibilities. One team member, in particular, took the time to sit down with me and walk through Microsoft Office step-by-step. At the time, I was convinced that I would never become comfortable using Microsoft, but they encouraged me, reminded me that I could learn it, and helped me build confidence along the way. Their support was not just about teaching me a new program; it was about helping me recognize that I was capable of learning new things.
As we worked together, we were also able to get to know each other better. The conversations, jokes, and relationship that developed while learning Microsoft made the process feel much more comfortable and enjoyable. It was not just about learning a new skill; it was also about building trust and feeling supported by someone who believed in me. Learning Microsoft also became about much more than just learning a new program. It opened the door to learning what being part of a professional team looked like. Throughout this experience, I have learned so many things beyond just technology. I learned what the onboarding process for a job looks like, including paperwork and the steps involved in becoming an employee. I also learned more about professional communication, collaboration, and how teams work together to create something meaningful.
Other Unexpected Supports & Benefits I gained a deeper understanding of the different resources, agencies, and services that exist to support people who are visually impaired, as well as the amount of work, planning, and collaboration that goes into creating a website and developing accessible resources. I also learned new terminology, gained insight into how projects like this are funded, and developed a better understanding of the different roles and responsibilities involved in this type of work.
Most importantly, this experience changed my perspective on collaboration and showed me how people with different skills and experiences can come together to create something much bigger than what one person could do alone. These skills and experiences have also carried over into my college life, where I feel more confident using different technology and approaching unfamiliar tools or situations. That same level of support continued throughout my work. If I was struggling with a new process or technology, team members were always willing to hop on a Zoom call, share their screen, and walk through things step-by-step until I felt comfortable. I always felt comfortable approaching people with questions because I knew I would be met with patience and encouragement. The support also extended beyond learning technology. When I was working on documents or resources, I knew I could share a draft and receive thoughtful feedback on how to make something stronger, clearer, and more organized. Team members would help edit my work by pointing out grammar or wording changes while still making sure the ideas remained my own. If I had ideas but needed help organizing them, they helped me bring those ideas together while keeping my voice and perspective at the center.
When something was confusing, they listened to my feedback and worked with me to clarify the information. They also made sure communication stayed accessible by providing feedback in ways that worked best for me. If feedback was easier to understand through an email explanation rather than comments in a document, they adapted to what worked best for me.
Another important part of their support was that I never felt pressured to rush. If I was experiencing technical difficulties or needed extra time to work through something, the team was understanding and reminded me that the quality of the work mattered more than simply finishing quickly. That patience, encouragement, and flexibility helped me feel confident while continuing to grow. This confidence transferred beyond using Microsoft to learning so many other things during this time. What started as something unfamiliar slowly became part of my everyday workflow, not because I had to figure it all out alone or right away, but because I was supported through the process.
Finding My Voice One project that will always stand out to me is writing about the dignity of risk. While I hoped the piece would be meaningful to others, I didn’t expect how much it would also teach me about myself. As I reflected on my experiences, I began to better understand the role that the dignity of risk has played in shaping who I am. It helped me see more clearly the importance of being given opportunities to take chances, make mistakes, learn, and grow. That piece ended up being just as personal as it was professional.
Beyond individual projects, this job has helped me understand what a professional environment really looks like in amore intentional way. I have always had a strong foundation in collaboration, communication, and carrying myself professionally, but this experience has helped me put those skills into action more clearly and consistently. It has made me more aware of how I show up in professional spaces and more intentional in how I contribute, share my thoughts, and work with others.
At the same time, it has strengthened my confidence in trusting my own voice and has helped me better understand my identity and direction, especially in relation to advocacy work. Overall, it has helped me become a better person.
More Than a Workplace What stands out most after my first year isn’t actually any single task or project – it’s the environment and the people. Every person on the EMPOWER VI team brings different experiences and perspectives, but everyone is treated with respect. Ideas are welcomed, questions are encouraged, and support is always available.
Even though this is a fully virtual position, the team has created a strong sense of connection and collaboration. Through Zoom meetings, emails, and ongoing communication, we are able to share ideas, ask questions, and work together effectively. The virtual environment has never made me feel disconnected. Instead, it has shown me that meaningful teamwork and genuine relationships can still be built remotely.
I felt like I could genuinely be myself and contribute in a safe environment because I always felt comfortable asking questions, sharing my thoughts, and learning at my own pace. When I did not know something or needed clarification, my questions were met with patience and encouragement rather than judgment. The team viewed my curiosity as a strength and was always willing to teach, explain, and help me better understand new things.
I also felt comfortable contributing because team members naturally included me in conversations and made space for my perspective. One coworker, in particular, would often bring me into discussions by asking questions like, “What do you think about this, Kat?” or “How do you think you could contribute to this?” They would also remind me that my perspective could be valuable by saying things like, “I’m sure you could provide insight on this.”
Those moments made a big difference because they showed me that my experiences and ideas were genuinely valued. It never felt forced or like I was being included just because I had a visual impairment. Instead, I felt like I was naturally part of the conversation, and my voice was something the team truly wanted to hear.
Another important part of feeling comfortable was knowing that accessibility was already at the center of the work we were doing. Since EMPOWER VI focuses on creating accessible resources for people who are visually impaired, I never felt like I had to constantly worry about whether my needs would be understood or whether accessibility would be considered. Accessibility was already something the team valued and worked toward every day.
That allowed me to focus more on contributing my ideas, sharing my experiences, and being part of the team rather than worrying about barriers. I also appreciated that people wanted to get to know me as a person, not just for the perspective I could provide. Together, those things created an environment where I truly felt like I belonged.
One Year Later Looking back, this first year has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I have gained professional skills, learned new tools, and contributed to work I am proud of. But even more than that, I have found a place where I feel supported, included, and valued.
It is a space where I can learn and still be treated with respect, even when I don’t have everything figured out. We are all helping each other in different ways. I am contributing ideas and perspective to the team, and the team is helping me grow and shape my journey as a working young adult. In many ways, this job gives me exactly what I need at this stage of my life, and it is exactly what I was looking for all along. For that, I am beyond grateful.
