It all started when I was 18 years old. It was my first encounter with Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind (IFB). Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind is a nonprofit organization whose vision is to provide employment, training, and services to people who are blind or visually impaired.
My dad, who has been working there for ten years as Director of Operations, encouraged me to be part of this program before I went to college.
So I did.
I became part of a Summer Enrichment program which was meant to provide educational experience filled with trips to museums and activities for 10 to 20 children who were visually impaired or blind. I was a mentor to one of them, 
his name was Jacob, an 8-year-old funny and vibrant kid who was fully blind.
We became the best of friends. We sat in the bus together and held hands as we walked through forests and lakes that we visited. I remember being scared of the lake and Jacob would always hold my hand firmly and guide me.
Funny because I was supposed to be guiding him.
You’d think I would have an impact on Jacob’s life but he had an impact on mine. He touched my heart and left a feeling of giving.
He made me want to work for a nonprofit organization, for a cause. I knew I was meant to do this. So when I went to college, I aspired to intern and work for a nonprofit. I worked for Special Olympics then for The Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
I find that people excel where their passions are, and this is where my passion is. My passion is in working for a cause where my efforts, sweat, and work will go into helping people. Every day there will be little silly mindless tasks that I will have to do like printing hundreds of papers/ads, or stuffing envelopes, but I know I will be doing it for someone. I will be doing it for a cause, for the community.
This is my story and this is who I am. I went into the field of communications and public relations because I want to have contact both internally and externally with my coworkers and the community so that we may work in a group to accomplish a goal.
Jacob left a feeling in my heart so that I may continue to help others through my skills with my heart and passion in hand.
– JMRA
Janice Rojas 