My life journey from a poor, boy with visual impairments to the best athlete of the state in 2017
I woke up one morning feeling serious pains in my eyes, even though I was about four at the time, I remember feeling as if my eyes were on fire. My parents and everybody in the family were confused. There had never been such in the family. My parents took me to different places and tried all they could to save my sight but by the time I could get any help, it had become too late. It had affected my eyes beyond redemption.
The colorful world I was born into has became pitch dark to me, I would spend hours crying in the house because I couldn't be like normal kids of my age. Even though my parents enrolled me at the school, the teachers there after some time advised that I should stop coming because it was no use if I couldn't see what they were teaching me. Eventually, when I was withdrawn from the school, I felt like my life had ended.
My father Nagesh, who worked as a toddy tapping laborer, my mother Parvathi and my sister Madhavi although took great care of me but were getting worried on how pitiful my future might be. But as always, there was a small hope, a hope of being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness, which led me to 'Netra Vidyalaya'. I was 6 years old and was admitted into 1st grade. They accepted me with all the love and care.
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Jagan's father - Nagesh
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Best Athlete Award |
This school has given me a new beginning, it taught me how to overlook my disability and have grit to accomplish anything in life. With constant coaching from my beloved teachers and blessing from elders, I was truly fortunate to participate in para Olympics and win 1 gold and 1 silver medals and got selected as the best athlete of Andhra Pradesh in 2017. I also won prize in NATMO Braille map quiz from Dehradun Governor and was part of the team which stood as South Zone Cricket Tournament Champions.
Born as a son of toddy laborer and getting visually challenged at the age of 5, I have never in my wild dreams thought about being the best athlete of the state. It would not have been possible without the grace of god, parent's blessings, Netra Vidyalaya founder HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji motivation, my teacher's encouragement, school management inspiration and most importantly YOU, the generous donors.
I will always be indebted to you all for this journey so far, I pray god to bless your kind heart, I pray god to give me enough strength to bring more laurels to the school, the state, the country and be an inspiration to all the visually challenged children.
As Helen Keller once said, "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it". It is with YOUR support, I have found a way to overcome my disability. Although I don't have sight, I have a vision. A vision to not only be self-sufficient, but also give back to this society that has given me so much hope. Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for this hope. With a hope of more laurels to win in 2018,
Yours,
Odaboyina Jagan
8th Standard
Netra Vidyalaya
