Long read but : I did my first ever school biography on Steve Jobs in 4th grade. Dressed up as him and everything for the presentation. Since doing that assignment, I had developed an admiration for the way Steve Jobs wanted to change the world with technology. As a kid I always got enjoyment out of helping people with their computers (mainly macs) To be able to help whether it was my sister, grandparents, or neighbor and see their thankful reactions after, was the best feeling in the world. Fast forward to 2005 and the first apple retail location opened up near me. This literally became my version of toys r' us. Id go here on weekends to hang out, play with the devices, and just talk to the employees who to me became idols. I knew i had wanted to represent this company that I had such a passion for, for the majority of my childhood. I had waited patiently until the day i turned 18 so I could apply and a month later landed an interview! I was so insanely nervous and excited as this was my chance to get even my pinky toe into the door of the company. Interviews comes and I fail. I failed HARD. I know why I messed up. I was all about apple apple apple products and not why i had truly wanted to work there. I guess i had just gotten so excited, I jumped the gun a bit. I was so bummed to hear I didn't get but if Steve taught me one thing, it's to not be afraid of failure. This was something that stuck with me since I had done that Biography. What did I do after that call? Applied again, and again, and again....and again for about 2 years! I moved with my dad where there was a store right down the street within walking distance. I decided to go in about once a week say hi to the managers and just remind them I applied online and make sure they remember my face. After about 3 weeks of doing this the manager finally said " Listen, you've been extremely persistent and patient, so lets bring you in for an interview." I thanked her left and a few days later had he interview. Interview went well and got a call saying they'd love to hire me, but another location I had applied to had told them they were also interested. I interviewed with lets call it store #2 and then was called for another, and then another and I'm sure anyone who knows been through this process knows its pretty rigorous. But that is only what pushed me harder to best convey exactly why I had wanted to work for the company so badly. Get a phone call a after 4 interviews saying I got the job! Ended up working and doing what I had loved for so long every single day and got paid for it! Working in the store only wanted me to push harder and harder to one day work at the mothership. While working there I had an amazing experience that helped me realize what I want to do if/when I make it. A blind man walks in and after walking him over to a corner that was not as busy, he expressed to me that he wanted an iPhone but doubted that he would ever be able to really use one due to him being blind. His doubting himself made my stomach drop and in my head my "what would steve do" mode kicked in. In my head, I was thinking I'm going to do whatever I can so this guy doesn't have to feel like this when it comes to technology. Ended up making a stencil from an earlier shipment of cardboard and traced the phone. Used a box cutter to cut it to the dimensions. We then placed this "stencil" over the phone so he could get a feel for the distance between certain areas on the screen. Now i know he won't always have to use this but I figured it'd be a great tool to get started on using the accessibility features. After spending 4 hours with this gentleman, he was face timing his grandchildren from NY who had never actually seen him before. Knowing I made this happen made me realize thats exactly what I want to do one day. I want to do UX for products so people who have disabilities don't have to have that sense of doubt like the man that came in. I had to eventually leave due to making the decision on finishing school and earning my degree in computer science, but plan on returning. So thanks Steve for the passion you've created, and showing me that you CAN make a difference, as long as your passionate about doing so.