Durban- At the age of four Shreya Moodley was diagnosed with profound hearing loss.
But says it didn’t stop her parents, Neil and Sashnee Moodley, from creating a “new normal” for her.
“My doctors advised my parents that I would need to attend a special needs school. However, they chose to send me to mainstream schools as they knew their daughter’s potential.”
Shreya said she attended Stanger Pre-Primary School and thereafter North Coast Primary from 2010 until 2016 and matriculated from Stanger Manor Secondary.
She plans to pursue a career in audiology or architecture.
“I have partial hearing in my left ear and am deaf in my right ear.
“I go about my day-to-day life wearing a hearing aid in my left ear and I have a cochlear implant.
“For the last two years, I have not worn my cochlear device as I developed a hematoma which causes discomfort. I also rely on lip reading but due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the wearing of masks, I have struggled at school.
I had to do without lip reading and not the use of my cochlear implants. My struggles seemed to persist. Being a victim of bullying and criticism from an early age, I was even more driven to prove to myself that I was a winner in life.
“Ever since I started school, my mantra has been: “I am Shreya Moodley. I am big, brave and beautiful.”
“This phrase has been the epicentre of the storm of success that I have been creating for myself.
“I completed matric and achieved 2 As, 3 Bs and 2 Cs. I stand out among the rest for my braveness and courageous mindset.
“Audiology, being one of my choices, stems deeply from my personal experiences, physically, emotionally and psychologically. I feel that I can make a difference in the deaf community.”
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