Although much of it goes unspoken, when brought up, many students have questions on one very special teacher, Señora Calvo. Most students at VHS know Señora Calvo, and all are amazed at her ability to perform her teaching duties so well despite her blindness.  Those who have had her as a teacher know how kind and genuine she is. However, when it comes to her life, not a lot is known, despite the substantial amount of questions students have. I’ve had the privilege of forming a close relationship with her over the past four years, so I’ve decided to ask the questions that others are too shy to.

Q: Do you think that being blind has taught you life lessons or allowed you to see life in a different way?

A: Definitely, I think that if I wasn’t blind, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I think that everything in your life has an impact on you as a person, so even though I was born blind and it’s not like I lost my sight in a tragic accident, I think it’s helped me to be more empathetic towards other people, and be more understanding since I’ve always had to find different ways to do things.

Q: Do you think it’s gotten easier as you’ve gotten older, compared to when you were younger?

A: It’s not that it’s gotten easier. When I was younger I struggled with it a little more, in the sense that when you’re young and you’re in school, you feel like an outcast and you’re trying to find your way in the world. So if you can imagine trying to find your way in the world but I had to do that and I also had to deal with the fact that I was the only blind girl in my school. Sometimes it was hard to accept that but I think as an adult I’ve accepted and come to terms with things. When you’re younger it’s hard because you’re learning and you’re going through different emotions.

Q: How is it being a mom?

A: It’s the most beautiful experience of my life. I know people will always think “How does she do it?” and I’m glad that I have the abilities to care for my son. I think at the beginning, for any mom its a learning experience, because there’s no instruction book that comes with a baby. It took me a little while to get into the groove of things, but now that he’s seven months old and we’re adjusted, I’m proud that I’m able to care for my child myself. I know that a lot of people are skeptical when they see me. “You’re blind, how do you have a child? How do you care for the child?” It’s really nice to prove people wrong, in a way, because there’s a lot of stigma around blindness and what we can do. But, I love being a mom, it’s great.