Amanie’s Story

A dream has been in my heart for as long as I can remember. When I was just 11 years old, a social worker at Lighthouse Guild asked me, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”

My answer then is the same as it is today: “I want to be a teacher.” Without Lighthouse Guild in my life, I would not be this close to making my lifelong dream come true.

Lighthouse Guild has supported me in so many ways along this path. When I started college, an instructor came to campus with me. They helped me learn to navigate with my white cane, find my classes and the cafeteria, and feel confident moving independently.

It hasn’t always been an easy road. I started a master’s program once before, but I wasn’t ready, and I walked away. Although my heart had been set on this dream for as long as I could remember, my head was spinning. I had trouble focusing, and the pressure to succeed took a toll on me.

For years, I worked hard in other jobs, but I knew I wasn’t living up to my full potential. I felt like I was letting myself down—and my family, too. Last year, I decided to take a leap of faith and return to the classroom. I interviewed for my current program at Dominican University, and had it not been for Lighthouse Guild, I would not have had the courage to try.

That leap changed everything. I’m now a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society for educators, and I expect to graduate in 2026 with dual certification.

Recently, math tutoring with Theresa at Lighthouse Guild gave me the refresher I needed as I prepared for a New York State teaching exam. We reviewed skills that had gotten rusty after several years. Converting fractions into percentages sounded simple enough—until the numbers were right in front of me! Thanks to Lighthouse Guild, I spent only a fraction of the time stressing over the math portion of the exam. Each experience has given me the tools and confidence I need to succeed. Now, I’m on track to graduate in 2026 with a dual degree in Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities.

Every step brings me closer to my dream: becoming a Teacher of the Visually Impaired.

The independence, resources, and encouragement I’ve received at Lighthouse Guild have shaped me not only as a student, but as a future teacher determined to empower others who are blind or have vision loss.