Young Visionaries

Jestin Samson and Jesus Palominos may have difficulty clearly seeing the world around them but they have a clear vision of what they would like to accomplish in the future. 

Both are working to achieve the first step to their goals — a college degree — with the support of $6,000 Dale M. Schoetler Scholarships for Visually Impaired Students awarded earlier this year by the California State University Foundation. 

The Schoetler Scholarships, named for a successful businessman who also was visually impaired, provide assistance for full-time CSU students who are legally blind. Eligible students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. 

“It’s an honor to be selected for this award,” said Samson. “I feel honored to have the committee even mention me.” 

This is the second time Palominos has been so honored. 

Jesus Palominos

Palominos, who has been legally blind since birth, is a senior completing a bachelor of music with an emphasis in classical guitar. 

“I hope to teach guitar to young people — especially those with disabilities. I want to share with them how to use music to develop certain skills for everyday life, as it did for me.”

Caption: Jesus PalominosDownload Photo

Music opened doors for Palominos when he was attending College of the Desert in Palm Desert. “At College of the Desert, there were people who really cared and wanted to see me do well,” he explained. He had struggled with his education until he took a music class when he discovered the possibilities that were open to him despite not having 20/20 vision. 

“I knew how to play guitar but I hadn’t taken it seriously. The instructor I had helped me understand what I could do,” said Palominos. “When he played a classical piece — I was like ‘WOW, I want to do that!’” 

Private lessons helped Palominos learn to read music and to understand rhythm, which then helped him learn and understand mathematics. When he completed his associate degree, Palominos knew he wanted to attend Cal State Fullerton and study under David Grimes, program director in guitar. 

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this program,” he explained. “It’s been an amazing experience. I’ve learned so much more than I expected and I can’t wait to share the thrill of learning, exploring and sharing all that music has to offer with others.” 

Palominos, an Anaheim resident, will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, in the Recital Hall of the Clayes Performing Arts Center. 

Jestin Samson 

Samson, who also is legally blind, has never let that serve as a handicap. After all, it didn’t stop him from playing football while a student in El Toro High School. And he didn’t let it stop him from going to college: he just had to find a university that was a good fit for himself — and his Pilipino mother. 

“While in high school I looked up the top five colleges in the country, but my mom encouraged me to stay close to home. So I checked the universities nearby and discovered that Cal State Fullerton was not only among my top five choices of schools but had a good disabled student services program,” said Samson of Rancho Santa Margarita. “I met the folks there before beginning my studies and they made me feel right at home.” 

Caption: Jestin SamsonDownload Photo

Samson’s future goals have a while to go. He is looking forward to attending graduate school and law school with the hope of attaining both a doctorate and a juris doctorate or doctor of juridical science. 

“First and foremost — I realized while in high school that I was good at arguing and that that was a good trait to have in law, so I decided to major in political science. Then a friend of mine was minoring in philosophy and suggested that I add that as well,” says Samson. “I don’t regret the decision to have two majors — philosophy helps with reasoning. 

“Currently, I'm a human rights activist and assistant executive director of The Hitting Stops Here! a campaign to end sanctioned school abuse in our American schools,” noted Samson. “I’m also a public speaker for the Disability Awareness Foundation, where I visit school children and talk to them about what a disability is. I teach the students about accepting those who may be different than themselves. I also give lectures with a former teacher of mine at Long Beach State and Chapman University to future educators about students with disabilities.” 

While attending classes Samson has become interested in constitutional law and would like to specialize in that field — particularly the first amendment, which prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and the fourth amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. 

Samson also is interested in product liability and remembers a case inwhich a fast-food restaurant was giving away toys encased in plastic balls that could choke or suffocate a small child. “I want to punish those who think they can take a short cut by placing the consumer at risk.”

Oct. 26, 2010