Fortunately, I had family who lived in Hereford, UK. Seeing how desperate my situation was, they consulted my family in Iran about the possibility of continuing my education in England.<\/p>\n

My studying in the UK would present my parents with a very high financial and emotional cost, but they lovingly prepared themselves for this sacrifice, realising how significant education was for my personal and emotional development. In 1996, I obtained my student visa six months after my application, and had an interview at the British Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus. At the time, the British Embassy in Tehran was closed.<\/p>\n

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Once the formalities were completed, I moved to Hereford to live with my aunt and her family, in September 1996. My education restarted at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford with a Foundation course in Independent Living, GCSEs in Maths and Psychology, A-Levels in Arts and Psychology and an AS-Level in Statistics. I exhibited my artwork both locally and nationally, and sold some of my paintings at events. I was also the recipient of the Prize in Classical Art from The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers in 1999.<\/p>\n

Coming from a very close-knit family, moving away hurt me more than I had prepared myself for, and the feelings of homesickness ran deep. My daily interactions with the friendly staff at the College, and my living arrangements with fellow students, created a substitute family for me, albeit in an environment that was ultimately an unrealistic, protective and sheltered one. The specialised and accessible campus deluded me with a feeling of complete independence, which had been alien to me six years earlier. That said, The \u2018Blind College\u2019 in Hereford, as it was known amongst students, provided a safe and comfortable space for me to develop my potential and gain confidence, something that I had longed for before.<\/p>\n

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Funding the impossibly high college tuition fees was also a big burden for my family. During my final two years, although I was still receiving contributions from my parents, my aunt and I started applying to charitable educational trusts to help with funding. I was awarded bursaries of different amounts by various trusts, as well as a discretionary award from the College. This is how I managed to complete my college years and then progress to an undergraduate course at Staffordshire University in History of Art, Architecture and Design.<\/p>\n

Next: Staffordshire University, UK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t