My True Success Story

I left for America with a joyful heart and the best expectations, and though I knew I was going to face difficulties, I strongly believed I could easily overcome them for the chance to study in the United States through the U.S. Department of State’s Global Undergraduate Exchange Program.

However, in the first months, those difficulties loomed stronger than me. At one point, I wanted to give up and return home to Armenia. I needed disability-related services to study for my classes at Western Michigan University. Since I am visually impaired, I needed accessible textbooks, dictionaries, a personal computer, and Internet connection. I could not study for my classes without these aids.

Then, the International Research and Exchanges (IREX) staff who administered my scholarship program gave me the assistance I needed. I requested and received a laptop computer and electronic version of my textbooks with the necessary software to make studying alongside my peers possible. With these supports in place, I did quite well.

Also, so I could learn orientation and mobility skills and eventually be independent in my community of Kalamazoo, Michigan, we arranged for a sighted guide to accompany me to my classes and other nearby places. I made new friends whom I could ask for assistance without hesitation in case I needed anything. I also could be helpful to them by returning favors. I learned to be more self-confident, to trust people and to believe in their motivations to offer assistance.

Before leaving for the United States, I believed people with disabilities could also be smart, but in America, I learned that they can lead an absolutely independent, interesting and useful life. Back in Armenia, I am now trying to establish supportive organizations like a Disabled Student Services and Resources office and a Handy Van accessible transportation service like I used in the United States. My dream is to have these services in Armenia. It is more than a dream, it is my goal and I am doing my best to accomplish it.

I still have more to learn concerning the needs and services for people with different disabilities. I am grateful to the U.S. Department of State, IREX, and the American people for my chance to see the world, to make new friends, to have new experiences and, most importantly, to become independent as a person with a disability. I now know new ways of making my own and others’ lives easier, happier, and more interesting.

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program offers scholarships for up to one academic year of non-degree study in the United States to undergraduate emerging student leaders from underrepresented sectors of selected countries around the world.