Today we are taking you to Istanbul to meet someone. Sharing her story is important to us because she can inspire people.

RawafedZusammenfluss: Who's Feyza?

Feyza: I was born in 1998. When I was five-months-old, doctors diagnosed that I had a tumor on my right eye; afterward, the treatment started. With the surgery, I got rid of the tumor. But I lost my right eye and it caused an asymmetric shape on my face. On the other hand, I had another chance to live.     

RZ: Do you think people make you feel different?

F: Yes, but I don’t care about this. I can continue to live my life as I want.

RZ: Have you ever realized you were special when you were a kid?

F: I remember those days. When I got out of the house, people were looking at me, some of them were scared by me (these things are still happening), and my mother was warning people. One day, I told my mother, “I don't want to go out again, because you're mad at people.” I didn't understand why people were looking at me and why my mother was angry. As time went by, I started to understand why I was exposed by those looks; because I was special and that is what was my mother tried to prevent me from feeling unusual.       

RZ: The school was your first place to be away from your house and started socializing with others. How did you take that?  

F: When I started school, it terrified me.  I was crying all the time, but it took a short time and then I got used to it. I received all my education in ordinary schools. At first, it was tough for me to contact others but I was a friendly person and now I still have connections with my old friends.    

RZ: Did you receive any support in this process?

F: No, I did not receive any support from an expert, but from my family. In those processes of my life, I realized that if I wanted to, I could overcome all obstacles.     

RZ: Did the course of your events you went through made you a mature person from early?

F: I had two options; the first one was to give up, it means, I would not be a step further from where I was. The second was to accept what happened and rise; continue to believe that a good experience can occur in my life. I chose the latter, and I've realized I matured too much.     

RZ: Do you have a specific goal now?

F: I admit that goals are routes that make life meaningful. I have many goals, although not all of them are huge ones. My department at university is physiotherapy and rehabilitation. I want to pursue an academic career in my field and help people as a successful physiotherapist. There are also places I want to visit, books I want to read.

RZ: Do you think your conditions are enough to achieve your goals?

F: In my country, the government provides some rights to people with disabilities, making their lives easier. Like free transportation within the city and visiting museums for free. Thanks to these opportunities, I can socialize a little more. When we go to hospitals, we have priority, which I think is a great convenience. Also, they provide help to us for our disability in our exams, giving extra time, etc.     

RZ: What are your sources of motivation? 

F: Being positive and believing in myself. I taught myself; you just lost one eye, you can handle it. I love the joy of success, also motivate myself with small prizes; we should not forget the effect of a piece of chocolate and coffee.       

RZ: Can you describe Feyza in one word? 

F: I would say ‘original’. 

 The illustration by Guy.

This interview is part of the series "Talking to Powerful Women", initiated by Rumeysa Yalazan.