Finding the Light Within: How Joslyn Turned Vision Loss into Purpose
Joslyn Marquez spent years searching for answers before being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of 16. Rather than allowing vision loss to define her, she transformed her journey into a source of purpose, community and empowerment.
For much of her life, Joslyn Marquez knew she saw the world differently. She just didn’t have the words or the diagnosis to explain why.
Joslyn marquez holding her hands out in front of her face, giving an example of her blind line in her right eye
Growing up in the Bronx, NY, she assumed everyone saw the world the way she did. First came the falls into ditches while playing Manhunt with her neighborhood friends, then bumping into trees, and eventually, a bike collision into a sign she never saw. Each incident made it clearer that something was different.
“I was riding my bike in the fifth grade when my friend passed a sign I had never seen,” says Joslyn. “I hit it so hard, I couldn’t move. She kept asking, ‘You didn’t see it?’ And I didn’t.”
For years, Joslyn struggled to make others around her understand her experience. In her right eye, she experienced what she referred to as a blind line, where she could see on either side but not in the center. Finally, after being referred to a retina specialist in Albany, New York, at the age of 16, she received a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
“I remember being kind of stubborn and a little clueless about the situation because I wanted to drive so badly,” recalls Joslyn. “The doctor told me I shouldn’t be driving and that he had an idea of what it was. He asked if anyone in my family had it and said we needed to do genetic testing.”
The diagnosis finally gave Joslyn the answers she had been searching for. She also learned that her aunt and cousin had RP, but she was determined not to let vision loss define her.
Joslyn marquez singing on stage at a public event
Music had always been an important part of Joslyn’s life. After living in several cities, she moved to California to pursue her passion, facing pressure in the music industry due to her vision loss. There were many times she was encouraged to hide it and was told that her “blind line” was a weakness. Over time, Joslyn chose to embrace it.
“I wanted people to understand the darkness I was born with and see that being different is beautiful,” says Joslyn. “I thought my blind line was beautiful. I thought my harmonies were beautiful. But there were people telling me that all these things I thought were beautiful were not. I had to take my power back and create a space where I could be who I wanted to be.”
As her vision changed, her left eye also became partially sighted, leaving her with central vision surrounded by a blind halo and limited peripheral vision. Songwriting became a way to process the emotions that came with the changes. She wrote three songs about vision loss, using music as the source of her healing.
“I transcended somewhere else, my soul into music,” says Joslyn. “I believe it is one of my soul's purposes, and that has helped me with my vision loss.”
A turning point came when Joslyn discovered other people with vision loss. Finding others who understood her experience gave Joslyn something she had been searching for throughout her life, community.
“I was looking for a community centered around blindness, and that’s how I discovered the Foundation Fighting Blindness,” says Joslyn. “The Foundation helped me become the advocate I am today. I am not alone. I now have people in my corner, a community, and resources.”
"I’ve made lifelong friends who understand how I see, and I understand them,” she adds.
Joslyn holding a white sign that says “Your Story Matters” in black font
Through volunteering, songwriting, and video creation, she hopes to transform how others perceive blindness and empower others with vision loss. She continues that mission through her role as a Community Engagement Chair for the Foundation’s Los Angeles Chapter.
As a Community Engagement Chair, Joslyn helps promote chapter events, connect with the local community and expand outreach through social media and creative initiatives. She also hopes to bring music and entertainment into the chapter’s work, showcasing the talents and abilities of people with vision loss while inspiring others through her own story.
“Being a volunteer helps a lot with my mission and who I am,” says Joslyn. “It provides a beautiful purpose and makes it way bigger than me. I want to be a part of something bigger than myself, and this is it.”
Throughout Joslyn’s journey, one theme has remained constant, there is a light within everyone that deserves to shine. She hopes to inspire others to look beyond perceived limitations and recognize the possibilities within themselves.
“No matter if you're completely blind or completely sighted or in between like me, you can always choose to use your light,” she says.
Her journey is a testament to the power of embracing what makes us different. What once left Joslyn feeling misunderstood has become a source of strength and great purpose. As she continues building community and helping others feel seen and supported through her music and volunteer work, Joslyn carries a message that extends far beyond her own experience.
Sometimes, the things that set us apart are not weaknesses at all, and they are where our light begins.
