Editor's Note: Nancy Burns presented this message at the 2004 Student Seminar.

        "With every experience, you alone are painting your own canvass; thought by thought, choice by choice," Oprah Winfrey. We do live in a world of choices; some minor--for example, hamburger or cheeseburger, diet Coke or regular, cargos or jeans.

        Some of your decisions will be much more critical and will impact the rest of your life. Where do your interests lie? What are your strengths-your weaknesses? What do you want to do for the rest, or at least a portion, of your life?

        To answer these questions you must do a lot of soul searching. Look deep inside at your own very unique gift; that special unique ability, that when tapped into, creates excitement and fulfillment in your life.

        Each and every one of us has this gift. As Jean Piaget wrote, "Identify the genius within you." In Piaget's studies he pointed out that the same group of students would score quite differently when tested on the same material but with differing testing methods. Those students who were at the top of the class when given, for example, an essay test would fall to the bottom of the class when given a multiple-choice type of exam. The reality is we must take a certain number of exams to complete most college work. The point is that you just need to be aware of which methodology works for you. Don't be discouraged if you don't shine in every test situation. Just acknowledge the fact that there is genius in you.

        Your life, your canvass, will reflect the choices you make. What thought have you given to your skills of independence? How are your mobility skills? Are your Braille skills sufficient? And how is your level of self-confidence?

        If I were to give you directions on how to get from here to the Burbank mall could you, first of all, write those directions in some accessible format? Secondly, could you follow those directions and get to the mall? These skills are the foundation for the rest of your life.

        If there are weak spots in any of these skills, paint them in red, highlight them, focus on them, and then take action.

        If you feel that your mobility skills might not be quite what they should be, gather information about training centers.

        Gaining the ability to maneuver independently throughout the world is one of the most critical skills you will ever need. It will determine the final results on your personal canvass.

        Literacy is a major key to opportunity and success. For most blind people Braille literacy is that key. Reflect for a moment on the incredible transformation Braille has undergone from those first dots written by Louis Braille in 1821 to the electronic note-taking devices of today.

        I don't know about you but if it weren't for Braille my own personal canvass would be much different.

        More decisions loom on the horizon for you students. To DSS or not to DSS, that is the question.

        The answer to this question will be an indicator of the kind of blind or visually impaired student that you want to portray on your canvass. I realize that Disabled Student Services vary from college to college. As I worked on my undergrad courses at UCLA and San Francisco State and masters program at a private school there was no DSS office as it exists today. For this I am extremely grateful. The price many blind or visually impaired students are paying in return for DSS is the loss of independence.

        Some DSS offices will provide you with, and insist that you utilize, the services of someone to attend classes with you and take notes for you. What have you gained by this? If the notes are in print, don't you need someone to read them back to you? And why in the world would anyone allow someone else to determine the important points to be noted from a particular class?

        And what about exams? Do you allow others to arrange the time and place for you to take your exam? If this is the case, what do you suppose your instructor and fellow classmates think about you? Would you be viewed as an equally functioning classmate? Probably not. Would it be better to speak directly to the instructor and make those arrangements yourself? I remember lugging a portable typewriter around and meeting with a professor's teaching assistant who would read the exam to me.

        Another important choice you will need to make will be to plan your major or long-term goal. Counselors and others will try to advise you but only you know where your interest lies. Only you know what makes your heart sing. Know that there is a reason for you to be here. Know that others may or may not have the ability to define your strengths and weaknesses. Gravitate toward those who encourage you, be they a parent, spouse, teacher, or rehabilitation counselor. Avoid those who discourage your life choice, be they a parent, spouse, teacher or rehabilitation counselor.

        Then there are those choices that change the course of history. In 1940 a brilliant 29-year-old Jacobus tenBroek made a decision which has impacted my life, as well as yours. A native Californian, he was a junior instructor at the University of Chicago Law School. He held five degrees; three of them were post graduate diplomas in law. And he happened to be blind.

        During those times important social issues were at stake. Blind people were generally classified as indigents and paupers. He saw the need for collective action and he chose to take a stand.

        In November of 1940 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania the NFB was created. Blind people from seven states came together. This was an incredible accomplishment for blind people at that time.

        They came to hear Dr. tenBroek speak about the need for collective action. He knew that individually the blind population would have no power, but together, and I quote, "Collectively, we are the masters of our own future and the successful guardian of our own common interests." Because of his decision, and the organization that resulted that day, we as blind people have spent the past six decades speaking with one united voice. The NFB has become the strongest force in the field of blindness.

        We have recently opened the brand new NFB Jernigan Institute. A rich assortment of innovative programs has been planned for the near future. The Kurzweil reading machine is evolving into a hand-held reader. There will be online educational programs about blindness and blind people. Technology training for trainers is available and new and exciting programs for science camp for blind youth have been planned.

        Although Dr. tenBroek was a visionary, it is doubtful that even he could imagine such spectacular progress throughout these several decades. Each generation of blind students picks up the paintbrush and adds to the NFB mural. When I was a student the greatest gift ever given to me was the NFB. I now give it to you, with love, as it was given to me. It is up to you students to tap into your own talents and potential. It is time for you to make the decision to identify and focus on the genius in you.