Eyesight Clouded the Words by Hafsana

Eyesight Clouded the Words by Hafsana - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

My eyesight has always been poor as a child, after getting a pair of glasses I realized I didn’t enjoy wearing them. Although I had trouble seeing, I refused to put on a set of “magnifying glasses” to improve my vision. I was reluctant to read as well. I was always fond of reading series and getting to discover new stories. It was something that bonded my sisters and I, we would discuss every story and they would recommend me new books to read. This all changed. My eyesight limited me from doing what I love, taunted by other students and feeling ashamed to be the only third grader to have glasses. Up until I got to high school, my vision continued to diminish and I would still concentrate on what people thought of me, instead of focusing on my eyesight. Reading became more difficult for me, I struggled to catch up with other students, or unable to read between the lines because I was too busy squinting. I’d squint and try to put each blurry word together.
My mindset soon changed, I became more assertive and aware of how I can help myself instead of wondering what others may think of me. Teaching English and the fundamentals of reading is something I would love to teach other students. After realizing all the time and effort on pleasing other people, I took initiative and began reading incessantly. I would read everything, I read every newspaper I can get my hands on, read every sign, and read every book in my home. I spent most of my days reading articles and tried to gain all the knowledge that I was unable to attain while growing up.
Teaching other students English and the basics of reading is a subject I would focus on because I knew how it felt to be behind. Educating students and assuring them the same mistakes I made aren’t repeated. I was once the kid to think about what others thought, now I could be the role model to give the same advice I wish I could’ve gotten as a child. Reading is a key element to learning any subject. We start off by learning the alphabets and progress by reading picture books, this is a technique that needs to be taught the proper way.
Volunteering with kids who have Autism, has taught me how to be patient and help those in need. This was something that has inspired me as a person and my mentality.