Tobago Correspondent
Former Whim Anglican Primary School student Faith Graham may have been born visually impaired but she has refused to let that define her.
The 11-year-old was born with both her eyes underdeveloped and a cataract in her right eye, facing challenges from an early age.
However, with her faith in God instilled from a young age, Faith has relied on determination and hard work to achieve her goals.
She received her Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) results on Thursday night and will be headed to Signal Hill Secondary.
During an interview at Whim Anglican yesterday, Faith explained how her vision affected her schoolwork.
“When I am trying to read from the board, I cannot see the words properly. It’s a bit small for me. I can’t really see from too far. I have to sit in the front to see.”
Whim Anglican principal Christine Benoi-Hackett told Guardian Media the school provided assistance to Faith and other children who have physical challenges.
She said the school contacted the Blind Welfare Association and the Education Division to see what assistance could be rendered.
However, she said Faith never wanted any preferential or special treatment and refused to use her vision as an excuse.
“For a short time she had an aide that worked along with her, and we saw an improvement in her studies. But Faith was a special child; she never wanted to be treated as someone with challenges, and she wanted to undertake anything that the other children were undertaking.”
She said the Blind Welfare Association assisted in getting her textbooks printed larger, but Faith initially did not want it adjusted.
However, she is now accustomed to it and has embraced it as part of her personal educational journey. Her SEA exam papers were also adjusted with larger print for her.
Asked how she prepared for SEA, Faith replied, “I did what any other person would do. I studied for the exam by giving myself goals. One moment I get this mark, so I striving for a bigger mark next and giving myself questions to practice on.”
When she is not studying, Faith said she enjoys watching movies, dancing, singing and playing.
She dismissed her challenge as any major disruption to her life, saying, “It doesn’t affect me that much to do the normal things that everyone else does. It is basically the same.”
Her mother Akilah Graham told Guardian Media doctors have not recommended surgery but are monitoring the eyes.
“They said surgery don’t make any sense. She’s seeing so that’s the main thing. They watching to see if the cataract would impact on her vision (further).”
Faith said her belief in God comes from her family, who pray every morning when they wake up.
Although she has not yet decided on a career path, Faith is determined to be “a very successful person so I can help my family and everyone else in need.”
She said she is looking forward to beginning her new school and “being a good student” along with her new classmates.
