Blind Abilities

Blind Abilities

Career Exploration Adventure Weekend: There's No One Path - Students Ask Professionals About Careers, Challenges and Success

Sep 13, 2026 · 52 min · 11 segments

What does a career path really look like? At the Career Exploration Adventure Weekend at Cragun's Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota, blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind students got the chance to ask…

What does a career path really look like? At the Career Exploration Adventure Weekend at Cragun's Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota, blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind students got the chance to ask working professionals the questions that matter when you're thinking about your future. In this lively careers panel, professionals from technology, accounting, human resources, education, hospitality, and library services share how they found their careers—sometimes by following a plan and sometimes by taking an unexpected turn. They talk about mentors, education, on-the-job learning, setbacks, work-life balance, building confidence, and why making mistakes can be an important part of moving forward. Students also ask about workplace accommodations and what employers can do to help blind and low-vision employees succeed. For students, parents, and educators, this conversation is a reminder that there is no single road to a meaningful career—just opportunities to explore, learn, adapt, and keep moving forward. **Links of interests:** Explore, Connect and Grow: Students Discover Career Possibilities at Cragun's Resort The Spectacle Newsletter Youth Services at SSB To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at [shane.desantis@state.mn.us](mailto:shane.desantis@state.mn.us) or call Shane at 651-385-5205. Full Transcript

What does a career path really look like? At the Career Exploration Adventure Weekend at Cragun's Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota, blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind students got the chance to ask…

Top entities: Brainerd×14 English×14 Minnesota×8 Antivirus software×2 Apple II×2

Introducing the Careers Panel0:00 – 1:54

GregGuest

0:00

Welcome to Blind Abilities.

GregGuest

0:01

I'm Jeff Thompson.

GregGuest

0:02

In this podcast episode from State Services for the Blind of Minnesota, we're gonna be talking about a careers panel event that happened in Brainerd, Minnesota at the Cragun's Resort as part of the Career Exploration Adventure Weekend event, where blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind students gathered and got to do some career exploration and meet up with professionals in the industry.

GregGuest

0:21

This panel was made up of five business professionals from technology, accounting, human resources, education, hospitality, and library services, and share how they found their careers, sometimes by following a plan and sometimes by taking an unexpected turn.

GregGuest

0:37

And nearly a dozen students listened and asked questions to help them with their own career explorations.

GregGuest

0:43

And be sure to check out the previous episode where we bring you a discussion on the Career Exploration Adventure Weekend experience.

GregGuest

0:50

So without further ado, here's the careers panel event recorded live from the Career Exploration Adventure Weekend event held in Brainerd, Minnesota.

GregGuest

0:58

We hope you enjoy.

KathleenGuest

0:59

[gentle music] I encourage everyone I talk to is find those people that really get you and understand you and can support the best you.

JonathanGuest

1:09

Empathy is a huge part of my job, and just really getting to know my team and what they need, how they communicate, and in- ensuring that, um, they're having a good time as well at work and, and they have the tools they need.

AbbyGuest

1:24

Teaching English, but I was also teaching before- and after-school Spanish.

AbbyGuest

1:28

I was an avid tutor kind of at the same time.

AbbyGuest

1:30

So I had to do some other kind of educational teaching experience as well to kinda get that experience in order to eventually get a full-time teaching position.

RileyUnknown

1:43

What would you have told yourselves as a, your younger self as a piece of advice in high school?

GregGuest

1:49

Now please welcome panel moderator Randy Lasher.

GregGuest

1:53

We hope you enjoy.

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