AGAINST great odds, three visually impaired students made themselves, their families, friends and college proud when they received their scrolls at the 28th Convocation of Disted College, Penang, at Hotel Equatorial today.
They were among 310 students who graduated from its certificate, diploma and degree programmes.
For Ding Teck Song, 21, Toh Chin Yuan, 24, and Lee Yong Pin, 29, they are thankful to have helpful lecturers and classmates to assist them along the way.
Teck Song, who previously studied at St Nicholas Home, was honoured to receive the Best Graduating Award for Diploma in Business Information Technology (DBIT).
“As I couldn’t see the presentation slides during lectures, I listened to audio recordings. Most pleasing was that I have very understanding lecturers whom I could meet face to face whenever I needed to consult them,” said Teck Song, who hails from Johor Baru.
“I am still looking for a place in the university to pursue an IT degree programme. I hope some university can offer me a place.”
Chin Yuan, who although obtained a degree in International Business Management, said his immediate concern was more on his health.
“I want to get my health back. I have had a lot of pain in my body. I have been in and out of hospital. Now I wish to spread health awareness,” said Chin Yuan, who is a part-time health speaker. He is from Muar, Johor.
Since the age of 10, Chin Yuan’s immune system has been weakened following a virus attack. He had to take about a year off his studies because of health reasons. But the Hong Leong Foundation scholarship holder was determined to finish well. Which he did.
For Yong Ping, getting the degree in Accounting and Finance, was “a sense of achievement.”
Like Chin Yuan, Yong Ping also overcame a very critical illness when he was diagnosed with brain tumour in 2010 when he was studying in Winnipeg, Canada.
Although he underwent an operation, he virtually lost both eyesight.
“My biggest hope is to regain my eyesight. IT (information technology) is not really my interest. It was time consuming going through the studies, and I feel happy in a way that I have made it,” said Yong Pin, who once studied at St Nicholas Home in Penang.
“I’m now doing direct sales with the help of friends, who don’t mind fetching me. I was very happy studying in Disted College because I have wonderful friends who helped me. The more people I meet, the more confident I become. For some people, I feel they can become more depressed if they stay at home all the time.”
The trio were guided to the stage to receive their scrolls by Kelvin Lim, who is the Disted’s International Students officer.
“Disted College is one of the rare education institutions to cater to the visually impaired. We have a hostel at King Street for them and also for overseas students. We arrange transport to ferry them for their studies and back,” said Lim, who himself took up Braille a few years ago so that he could understand the needs of the visually impaired and to help them.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis