When Milton Young first enrolled in Miami Dade C o l l e g e ’ s Introduction to Photography class, he never thought he would have a one-man show displaying his creations.
But once he got his bearings around the Olympus camera he was assigned, there was no stopping him, and now through May 30, students, faculty, staff and the community-at-large will be able to experience first-hand what this visually impaired alumnus has accomplished in his first photography exhibition, “Encountering My World,” at the Wolfson Campus’ The William Berger Art Gallery, Room 1180.
“Faith is taking the first step even if you can’t see the whole staircase,” Young said. “I feel so honored, plus natural curiosity mixed with gratitude, in being recognized for the talent coming from my soul.”
The College’s ACCESS Program (A Comprehensive Center for Exceptional Student Services) at the Kendall Campus encouraged him to sign up for his first photography course. Although scared to fail, Milton obliged. His professor, Tony Chirinos, equipped him with a point-andshoot camera.
“Once in a while you find a student that inspires you to be a better teacher. Milton Young filled the class with so much wis- dom about life and about the desire to live no matter the circumstances. What a blessing it was to have him in my class,” Chirinos said. “Milton understood the space that surrounded him and with that knowledge, he was able to make the amazing photographs that he did, even without sight… truly amazing.”
Young was diagnosed with advanced open-angled glaucoma nearly five years ago. He can’t see from his right eye and can only make out gray and cloudy images from his left eye. He learned to read Braille at the Lighthouse for the Blind and now uses apps from his iPhone to help him study.
Last spring, Young graduated with a computer engineering degree from MDC’s Kendall Campus with a 3.93 grade-point average.
