I’m Brigitta. I’m 24 with nystagmus, and I am partially sighted. I’m happy to say I have just graduated with a First Class honours Degree from Oxford Brookes University, and won the Anthropology Prize. I’m very proud of these achievements. It has been a long road to this point and I face challenges daily. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my parents, boyfriend and friends. And of course the support of such an inclusive, diverse and supportive university. I now hope to get my undergraduate dissertation published in an academic journal and present it at an academic conference. Following that I will be studying for my Masters in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes part-time, alongside working at the Ashmolean museum of Art and Archaeology.
Why did you become a mentor?
I became a mentor to help young people who are maybe going through the same things that I went through as a young person, and offer them a space and person to talk to about the issues they may have. I also wanted to offer guidance and build confidence in young people with sight loss. It’s not always easy to ask for help and having the confidence to do so doesn’t come naturally to everyone.
Why are mentors important?
We need mentors for young VI and blind people because sometimes it’s not always easy to talk to a parent or friend about some things, particularly if they are not visually impaired or blind themselves. So having that other person with similar and personal experience can be really beneficial to a young person. Also, the age group is a sensitive age group at an important time. This is the time where guidance and support is essential.
