WELLNESS AUTHOR
Alexie Rendon
THE BEST PAIR OF EYES n Being visually impaired is not
the end of the world. What could be better than always having a Seeing Eye dog by your side?
I
n my world, perspective is everything. I firmly believe a person’s attitude and mindset can make or break their experiences. When I was 6 weeks old, I was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric eye cancer called bilateral retinoblastoma. Fast forward through the surgery to remove my left eye, six months of chemotherapy and 36 procedures later, I became visually impaired. I realized how tangibly my visual impairment impacted my life when I turned 16. For most teenagers, turning 16 is a huge deal — getting a driver’s license and having the independence to go anywhere is thrilling. Leading up to my 16th birthday was bittersweet. I rarely let things get to me but knowing I
MARCH 2022
was unable to get my license was frustrating. My frustration didn’t last long. I decided to choose a positive perspective instead and remind myself that potentially getting a Seeing Eye dog was way cooler than any car I could ever dream of driving. Instead of researching the perfect car, I researched the perfect guide dog school. As an editorial intern at Austin Fit, we don’t typically write articles about ourselves. However,
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with this being the dog issue, I couldn’t help but share my story. Prior to having a Seeing Eye dog, I was always with friends and family who were able to help me navigate. I’m extremely aware of my surroundings and am able to follow cues. However, part of getting older is finding ways to be more independent. Ultimately, I knew having a guide dog would make navigating a college campus independently so much easier. In 2016, I applied to guide dog
