Maroua Ben Khedher

"Love your eyes even if you only have one because this makes you different and unique"

My name is Maroua Ben Khedher, I'm Tunisian and I live in Soussa which is located in Tunisia.

Currently, I am working with my my country's most qualified ocularist, Dr. Anis Denguezli, as an assistant - a good opportunity to learn more about this field. In addition to my work, I volunteer in civil protection.

My interests include taking care of animals, sports, nature, meditation, mental health and psychology. One of my goals in life is to build a shelter for homeless pets and animals.

My eye story begins at the age of three, when my parents left me in the care of my grandfather while they travelled to Switzerland. During this period, on one particular day, I was playing with a friend who was standing on the top of a house. While he was up there, he threw a stick down that hit me and struck my eye, severely damaging it. Instead of helping me, I remember his mother yelling at me and attending only to her son. It took a while, but finally I was taken to the emergency room. The eye was so damaged that I required multiple operations and could no longer see from that eye. Finding an artificial eye that fit properly was difficult and this impacted my self-esteem throughout my childhood.

Eventually after college, I began to love myself and my imperfections to the fullest. I decided to be everything and everyone for me. My advice for everyone who has the same experience is: love your eyes even if you only have one because this makes you different and unique. Self love is a decision, so make the decision immediately to start loving who you are.