About 3% to 4% of all babies born in the United States have congenital abnormalities that will affect the way they look, develop, or function. What is a congenital anomaly? In simple terms, it refers to a birth defect and is caused by problems during the fetus 's development before birth. This seemingly foreign “thing” unknown to most is as realistic to me as a peel is on a banana. I was born with a congenital anomaly which affects my vision. Due to a genetic defect, my retina never fully developed in utero leaving a large hole in the back of my right eye. The affected areas of my eye include the retina and macular, two main components of the science behind sight. In most cases when children are born with this particular disorder, it involves …show more content…
From a very young age, I vividly remember being picked on, ridiculed, and taunted due to a slightly noticeable aesthetic difference between my two eyes. Rather than allow these instances to drag me down or deter me in any way, I chose to stay positive and as I grew older, I welcomed the ignorance of others. I considered these times in my life opportunities for growth not only for myself, but as well, for those who questioned me and my abilities. I believe I have gained strength and tremendous leadership skills due to my visual impairment. Leadership is all about possessing the necessary qualities required to inspire and motivate others. Living with a visual impairment has been challenging yet, has provided me with self-awareness, having a sense of knowing who I am; has given me confidence to take on new challenges; has enabled me to be adaptable and have the willingness to change and stay open minded to new ideas and new situations; and, has taught me to always remain positive and inspire others to do their best. Accepting who I am has allowed me to educate others not limiting them to my personal situation but more so, regarding acceptance of others, willfulness, determination, perseverance, and the importance of having an enormous sense of