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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Teens learned about the value of self-image along with showcasing on the third day of the Disney Dreamers Academy on Saturday.

The day started with a surprise for one of the teens. Te’Lario Watkins II, 16, from Blacklick, Ohio, thought he was in the middle of a media interview when ‘Shark Tank’ investor and successful businessman Daymond John made a surprise appearance and delivered the personal invitation to visit the ABC show set in Los Angeles.  

Since he was 7 years old, Watkins has run his own small business, Tiger Mushroom Farms, which cultivates gourmet mushrooms and sells dry mushroom products. Additionally, he is the founder of a non-profit called the Garden Club Project, which addresses food insecurities in his community.

“That was a big surprise,” Watkins said. “[I’m] truly excited for the opportunity. There are just so many emotions I can’t put them into words.”

John said he hopes inviting Watkins to the show will help him on his journey in entrepreneurship. 

“There’s nothing that can stop him because he’s a Dream. I just hope I was a little part of his dream,” John said. “I would hope that bringing him out to ‘Shark Tank’ will continue his road to success.”

Later in the day, teens participated in an image makeover session with Disney Communications Specialist Raevon Redding and fashion designer Jérôme LaMaar. During the session, several students received makeovers and learned about the value of presentation and perfecting their brand.

The teens attended the “Empowerment Hour” in the afternoon, where they heard from four-time Olympic gold medal track star Sanya Richards-Ross, paralympic athlete Trevon Jenifer and anthropologist, educator, author, museum director and the first Black female president of Spelman College, Dr. Johnetta Cole.

In the evening, the teen celebrated their final night at the Academy with a party featuring music by DJ, rapper, TV and radio personality Big Tigger

The Dreamers Academy came to a close on Sunday with a commencement ceremony. The students reflected on what they’ve learned over the weekend before bidding one final farewell and going home.

This is the 17th year of Disney Dreamers Academy, a four-day mentoring program designed to broaden career awareness and create opportunities for 100 Black high school students and teens from underrepresented communities across America each year.

Disclosure: The Walt Disney Company paid for the travel and accommodations for several media outlets, including the AmNews, to cover the Disney Dreamers Academy. Disney did not review or approve any of our coverage.

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ORLANDO, Fla. – Youth listened to inspirational speakers and got to experience their future careers on the second day of the Disney Dreamers Academy on Friday at Walt Disney World. 

Along with hearing inspirational speeches, Dreamers participated in hands-on workshops in various career fields around Walt Disney World in “Living Laboratories”.

The day started with the teens engaging with the makers of “Finding Nemo: The

Big Blue… and Beyond” to learn about the creative careers involved in the production. They also heard from artist, author and former Walt Disney Imagineer Nikkolas Smith who the teens gave a message about finding the hero in themselves.

Meanwhile, the teens’ parents and guardians attended a session with Olympic Champion, reality TV star, and mother Sanya Richards-Ross along with her own mother.

One of the many speakers the teens heard from was actor Lance Gross. During a media interview, he said he hopes the teens were inspired by his message.

“I hope they leave here knowing that anything is possible,” he said. “My father told me ‘Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.’ If it’s something you believe in then go after it.” 

In the afternoon, the teens attended the “Living Laboratories” session where they were separated based on their career interests to hear from and network with Disney cast members and other professionals about a vast array of career opportunities. The labs included business and service, entertainment and storytelling and science and technology.

Sophia Halm, 16, from South Orange, NJ is one of the 100 teens selected to participate in this year’s Academy. She has dreams of becoming an aerospace engineer and participated in a session where she met representatives from NASA.

“This experience has been amazing,” she said. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be here, for all the people I get to meet and all the connections I get to make.”

On Saturday, the Dreamers are participating in a session where they will learn about creating their personal brand and image. A collection of celebrities and other professionals will also share personal lessons about achieving success. 

Disclosure: The Walt Disney Company paid for the travel and accommodations for several media outlets, including the AmNews, to cover the Disney Dreamers Academy. Disney did not review or approve any of our coverage.

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* This article was originally published here

DALLAS (AP) — Millions of people along a narrow band in North America will look up when the sky darkens during a total solar eclipse on April 8. When they do, safety is key.

Staring directly at the sun during a solar eclipse or at any other time can lead to permanent eye damage. The eclipse is only safe to witness with the naked eye during totality, or the period of total darkness when the moon completely covers the sun.

Those eager to experience the eclipse should buy eclipse glasses from a reputable vendor. Sunglasses are not protective enough, and binoculars and telescopes without a proper solar filter can magnify light from the sun, making them unsafe.

“Please, please put those glasses on,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said.Where to find eclipse glasses

Since counterfeit glasses abound, consider purchasing glasses from a local science museum or order online from a seller cleared on the American Astronomical Society’s website.

Eclipse safety experts say legitimate eclipse glasses should block out ultraviolet light from the sun and nearly all visible light. When worn indoors, only very bright lights should be faintly visible – not household furniture or wallpaper.

Old eclipse glasses from the 2017 total solar eclipse or October’s “ring of fire” annular eclipse are safe to reuse, as long as they aren’t warped and don’t have scratches or holes.

Glasses should say they comply with ISO 12312-2 standards, though fake suppliers can also print this language on their products. NASA does not approve or certify eclipse glasses.How to view the eclipse without glasses

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can still enjoy the spectacle through indirect ways such as making a pinhole projector using household materials.

Poke a hole through a piece of cardstock or cardboard, hold it up during the eclipse and look down to see a partial crescent projected below. Holding up a colander or a cracker will produce a similar effect.

Another trick: Peering at the ground under a shady tree can yield crescent shadows as the sunlight filters through branches and leaves.

Eye experts warn against viewing the eclipse through a phone camera. The sun’s bright rays can also damage a phone’s digital components.Why looking at a solar eclipse is dangerous

Eye damage can occur without proper protection. The sun’s bright rays can burn cells in the retina at the back of the eye. The retina doesn’t have pain receptors, so there’s no way to feel the damage as it happens. Once the cells die, they don’t come back.

Symptoms of solar eye damage, called solar retinopathy, include blurred vision and color distortion.

In a rare case of eclipse eye damage, a woman who viewed the 2017 eclipse without adequate protection came to Mount Sinai’s New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, complaining of a black spot in her vision. Doctors discovered retinal damage that corresponded to the eclipse’s shape.

“The dark spot she was describing was in the shape of a crescent,” said Dr. Avnish Deobhakta, a Mount Sinai ophthalmologist.

There’s no set rule for how long of a glance can lead to permanent damage. Severity varies based on cloudiness, air pollution and a person’s vantage point.

But doctors say looking at a solar eclipse for even a few seconds unprotected isn’t worth the risk. There are reports of solar retinopathy after every solar eclipse, and U.S. eye doctors saw dozens of extra visits after the one in 2017.

Spectators who plan ahead can secure a stress-free eclipse viewing experience.

“It can be dangerous if we aren’t careful, but it’s also very safe if we take the basic precautions,” said Dr. Geoffrey Emerson, a board member of the American Society of Retina Specialists.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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* This article was originally published here