My name is Sienna Rose Jiminez.  I live in Chula Vista, California, with my parents and younger sister, Sierra Hope, who is 10.  I am 14 years old.

I'm like any other teen: I like to gab on the phone with my friends, hear the latest rock hits, shop for clothes, ride my horse Belle Chance, go swimming, go to the mall, and just laze out during summer vacation or the weekends.  In addition, I also like to write stories and poems.

I am visually impaired.

I was in an accident at age four.  It took my sight.  Well, not immediately:  at first I saw color, but now I see nothing but grey.  I remember what color looks like, so I have retained color in my memory and can imagine what an aurora must look like or the fireworks bursting overhead in the nighttime skies during the Fourth of July..

I have learend to get around, thanks to my trusty white cane with the red tip.  Or I hang onto somebody's arm and let them guide me if I don't have my cane on hand (I usually do).  I did have a guide dog for a while, but a pack of coyotes got him.  I miss Sampson veyry much; he was my best friend.

People ask me all the time if I miss seeing or they seem to get uncomfortable with using the word "see" or "seeing" around me.  Well, I do miss seeing in some aspects (the fireworks, for one, or sunshine-filled, blue skies of a California summer, flowers, the beach, or the sight of a rock band performing on stage, so much more.  

As for the word "see", I  have no issues with it.  I tell people to say it; I tell them I may be blind, but I'm not stupid, and at one time I actually did have vision.

When I grow up, I would like to be a teacher.  I would like to teach visually impaired kids such as myself and show them that even though I may be blind, my disability does not define me or stop me from doing what I want in life (except, perhaps, maybe driving a car, that is!).  

I would like to join the miltary, but they don't take blind people, so that blows those plans right out of the water.

Sometimes being blind can be a giant pain, but it also can be a blessing in disquise.  I choose to look at it as a blessing.  That way, I don't have to see all the world's "uglies", such as people living homeless on the street, or begging for food, the images of war and violence on television (or in the newspapers), people doing drugs (and Lord knows what else), or Veterans and soldiers with missing limbs trying to navigate their way through life.

Well, I haven't been to bed yet, so I am gonna go, but I wanted to share my story.  I'd best go before Mami or Papi catch me; they don't like me getting on the computer before five (here in Cali, it is only going on three in the morning!).  God bless; this is Sienna Rose Jiminez saying I'm outta here!

~Sienna Rose.  :)

P.S.: The dog in the picture?  It's one of Sampson.  I had him for four years before the coyotes got him.  Mom put it up for me.  I sure do miss him ... :(