Everyone has their goals in life. For me, it came in the form of a diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) when I was a child. RP is an incurable condition that causes progressive retina degeneration, leading to gradual vision loss. I knew even from a young age that I wanted to be something great. At the time, I had no idea how. When I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, my world fell apart. Navigating life, I often bumped into objects. I struggled to see the board in class requiring accommodations like a magnifier device in middle school and needed magnified print in high school. These tools helped me, however, they made me feel different, and I was often nervous about my future. I thought to myself, "Why did this happen to me? I was in a bad state of mind for a long time. I faced challenges like my eyes being sensitive to light and struggling to see well in the darkness.  I was in constant fear of losing my vision. That all changed after a heartfelt conversation with my mother, who also has RP. She encouraged me not to let fear paralyze me, allowing me to confront my fears and make a difference. I began raising funds through GoFundMe and raising awareness about RP on social media. I actively participated in research institutions, including undergoing retinal exams at the National Institutes of Health. The volunteering of my eyes allowed me to contribute to finding a cure. I aim to continue my research and inspire people to make life better for others and turn adversity into a force for positive change.   My goal for education is to go to a university specializing in medical practices to utilize their resources to hone my skills fully. I will use college as a stepping stone to get to med school. Next, I plan to become an eye surgeon and use my skills to help find a cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa. My future goal is to support the visually impaired community by creating organizations that give them the accommodations they need for free and work towards finding a cure for many visual diseases.

Everyone faces adversity in their life. For me, it came in the form of a diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) when I was a child. RP is a condition that causes progressive degeneration of the retina, leading to gradual vision loss. Ever since I can remember I had to look down and around me because if I didn’t I would often find myself running into things. These things varied from boxes to even walls if I was not careful. Similarly, It was difficult for me to see the board from far away, therefore, I needed accommodations. In middle school, my first accommodation was a box-like magnifier that could also take pictures. This helped me throughout my middle school years and made it immensely easier for my eyes and allowed me to be anywhere in the class and still see the board with ease. Although it allowed me to see better, it made me feel out of place like an alien in the classroom. My classmates often asked about the machine and constantly joked about it. After I entered high school I had different accommodations. They informed my teachers about my condition and they put me in the front of the class and allowed me to get larger prints on all of my papers. Despite my middle school and high school accommodations, I felt scared for the future. Dark thoughts took over my mind and cast a shadow of doubt and negativity regarding how my eyes would develop in the future. This put me in a bad state of mind for months until I had a heartfelt talk with my mother who also has my condition. She said that I could not let something I could not control weigh me down. So I decided that instead of letting fear paralyze me, I would confront it head-on. Living in fear wasn't an option. To fight my anxiety and uncertainty, I decided to focus on making a difference by giving back to the community. I started by raising money for people with retinal illnesses through GoFundMe and raising awareness of RP through social media. I want my voice to reach a vast amount of people, bringing to light the gravity of retinal diseases and calling to action support for those facing it. Through this work, I hope to help the progression of research on retinal diseases and supply the researchers with the necessary funds for more proficient machinery and equipment. I didn’t stop just there. I began actively participating in research institutions related to curing RP. This involved hour-long retinal exams at the National Institutes of Health. They used my eyes to deepen their knowledge and research about retinitis. This research gave me hope and allowed me to directly contribute to the collective effort to find a cure. But most importantly, I learned success isn't just about personal achievements but also about making life better for others. To anyone facing similar circumstances, my advice is this: Don't let fear control your life. Use it as a motivation for action. Get involved, seek out support, and contribute to solutions. Remember, adversity is a powerful motivator. Focus on what you can do to make a difference, not just for yourself but for others who may walk the same path. By changing your mindset, you can transform your adversity into a force for positive change.

As the world gradually blurred around me, I was navigating a new reality caused by the limitations of my failing vision. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) as a child, each day I faced challenges like bumping into unseen walls and boxes, and in some cases getting injured. In middle school, my first accommodation was a box-like magnifier that could also take pictures. This helped me throughout my middle school years and made it immensely easier for my eyes and allowed me to be anywhere in the class and still see the board with ease. Although it allowed me to see better, it made me feel out of place like an alien in the classroom. My classmates often asked about the machine and constantly joked about it. After I entered high school I had different accommodations. They informed my teachers about my condition and they put me in the front of the class and allowed me to get larger prints on all of my papers. However, after continuous conversations with my parents, I learned that true vision isn't solely about what you see with your eyes but the actions that you take. Instead of letting fear paralyze me, I chose to confront it head-on. Living in fear wasn't an option. To combat my anxiety and uncertainty, I decided to focus on making a difference. I realized that I should not let something beyond my control weigh me down. This shift in mindset led me to community involvement, which played a crucial role in my journey. I became an advocate for individuals with visual disabilities, raising funds to increase awareness and inspire others facing similar challenges. Volunteering with organizations dedicated to supporting those with disabilities allowed me to help the community and highlight the importance of giving back. These experiences shaped my definition of success and drove me to work toward finding a cure for RP, aiming to prevent others from experiencing the same struggles I faced. I actively participated in research institutions including undergoing tests at the NIH. This direct involvement in research not only gave me hope but also allowed me to contribute to the collective effort to find a cure. These visits fueled my determination and resilience, teaching me the value of perseverance and the importance of contributing to the greater good. I learned not to let fear control my life but to use it as a motivation for action. Adversity is a powerful motivator and creates the strongest people. I decided to focus on what I could do to make a difference, not just for myself but for others who may walk the same path. By staying determined and proactive, I can transform my adversity into a force for positive change. My sight may dim but my goals are clear.