Mona Minkara overcame vision problems and cultural barriers to find academic and personal success.

By Sarah Beldo
June, 2009

Wellesley College senior Mona Minkara is clearly not deterred by challenges.

A couple of years ago, she told her aide Pam Davis that despite being legally blind, she is not afraid to fall when she walks around campus. It is that positive attitude [1] that seems to typify the young woman's approach toward life and which led to her role as the college's 2009 commencement speaker.

"It's an honor," Minkara says. "I hope disabled students around the country can realize you can make it even though you might be blind, or deaf, or whatever your story might be."

At age 7, Minkara was diagnosed with macular degeneration, which slowly led to blindness. Still, she did not allow her physical disability prevent her from taking on some of the most difficult courses at her high school and gaining admission to Wellesley as a chemistry and Middle Eastern studies major.

A daughter of Lebanese immigrants and a devoted Muslim, Minkara—who wears a hijab head cover—has also gained wisdom from her experience of adapting to cultural differences.

"It's made me stronger and taught me to be who I am," she explains.