TIANSHANNET
Tianshannet-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Basha Tiegesi) news: On January 10, 2005, a baby girl was born to the family of Nuerlan Jianibai, a villager of the Kuerkudeke Village, Saerkuobu Township, Zhaosu County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. Her family named her Ayishuwake, hoping that her world is full of light and color.
Nevertheless, destiny played a trick on her.
Ayishuwake cannot see bright flowers, tender green leaves, and radiant sunshine as she has severe congenital visual impairment.
“In the past, I could only ‘feel’ the light and judge the distance with sound. It was the ‘Qiming Action’ program that brought me out of the darkness and changed my life. I am very lucky,” said the 18-year-old girl on November 14.
Photo taken in September 2023 shows Ayishuwake Nuerlan, who was commended and welcomed by Zhaosu County Vocational and Technical School for her participation in the 7th Games for the Disabled and the 4th Special Olympics of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided by Zhaosu County Vocational and Technical School)
“Listening attentively is the only way for me to effectively memorize the teacher’s lectures”
When her parent tended a herd of animals, they would take little Ayishuwake along with them. “No matter where they are, they always call me from time to time to let me know they are around me,” said Ayishuwake.
One early morning, Ayishuwake felt her way out of her yurt. Facing the morning glow, she “felt” the faint warmth of the sun and couldn’t help but run. From then on, she enjoyed the feeling of running on the grassland.
When she turned eight, Ayishuwake, who had been unable to go to school due to visual impairment, was finally admitted to a primary school with the coordination of the township government in the spring of that year. “I was very happy when I knew that I could go to school,” said Ayishuwake.
For those who are visually impaired, reading is time-consuming and laborious. Over the years, Ayishuwake has overcome many difficulties while attending school at the township.
“I can’t see the textbook clearly, so I have to try my best to remember what the teacher said in class by listening carefully,” said Ayishuwake. Sometimes, she needed the assistance of her classmates to finish her homework. However, due to her disability, she was sometimes excluded and mocked by some classmates.
Ayishuwake studied hard and took an active part in various activities organized by the school. Every time Nuerlan sent her to school, he would tell her that the darkness is acceptable, but her heart must remain bright and open. She should acquire knowledge and skills and treat herself like a normal person.
“I was reborn, and this world is truly beautiful”
“When I was in primary school, I only had a slight sensitivity to light in my eyes, and everything was blurry,” said Ayishuwake. Particularly, she wanted to see what her parents looked like, and the faces of her classmates who ran with her on the playground.
In the spring of 2018, the Disabled Persons’ Federation of Ili Prefecture launched the “Qiming Action” program, inviting ophthalmologists in the autonomous region to Yining City to provide free eye operations for adolescents with visual impairments. Ayishuwake, who was 13, was lucky to get the chance.
Ayishuwake said that she was very nervous before the operation and saw her parents for the first time after the last piece of gauze was removed half a month after the operation.
“I was reborn, and this world is so beautiful,” Ayishuwake looked eagerly at everything around her: her beloved father, mother, elder brother, as well as the ranch and the cattle and sheep.
After continuous conditioning, her vision has recovered to the point where she can see within 10 meters. She successfully completed her primary and middle school studies. In September 2022, she became a student of the Zhaosu County Vocational and Technical School, majoring in hotel management.
“This quiet girl likes sports very much and has joined the sports club,” said Wuyungu, the head teacher of her class, “Ayishuwake has a unyielding spirit.”
“No matter whether it’s her turn or not, she will help her classmates do cleaning; when she has pocket money, she will buy snacks for her classmates and roommates,” said Wuyungu.
In her spare time, she is either on the playground or in the sports equipment room.
“Ayishuwake has a talent for sports, so the school provided her with a key to the sports equipment room, where she can exercise anytime,” said Alaxi Abin, Party Branch Secretary of the School, “she also excels in home economics courses such as table setting, room cleaning, and the tea ceremony.”
“She has very good physical fitness and a fighting spirit and is willing to try even in the face of boring training,” said Jiayeerbieke Abulahan, physical education teacher of the school.
In September 2023, the 7th Games for the Disabled and the 4th Special Olympics of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region took place in Korla City. Before that, a qualification trial was organized in Ili Prefecture. Saerkuobu Township sent a letter of recommendation to the school to help Ayishuwake seize the opportunity. For the next month, the school has arranged systematic athletic training for Ayishuwake during her after-school hours.
Ayishuwake stood out from the preliminary competitions and became a member of the delegation of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture.
“Just treat the track as the grassland and run freely,” Jiayeerbieke encouraged her.
Photo taken in October 2023 shows Ayishuwake Nuerlan study tea ceremony at the Zhaosu County Vocational and Technical School in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided by Zhaosu County Vocational and Technical School)
“I found the feeling of running on the grassland.”
Ayishuwake arrived in Korla and cried excitedly on September 9.
In her first competition, she lacked experience and seemed a bit nervous. “The first race was a 400-meter run, and I was very nervous before the start. However, once I started running, I didn’t have that feeling anymore because I found the feeling of running on a grassland,” said Ayishuwake with a smile.
Ayishuwake tried her best and successively won the championships in the women’s T11-13 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and 4x100 meters mixed relay, and 4x400 meters mixed relay.
“During the competition, she got injured, but she showed no signs of backing down, always trying her best to run,” said Feng Xiang, coach of the delegation of Ili Prefecture.
Winning five shining gold medals, she left the city where she had realized her dreams with a smile on her face.
Upon her return to Zhaosu, the school held a celebration ceremony for her and gave her a set of brand-new sports equipment as a gift, encouraging all teachers and students in the school to learn from her fighting spirit.
“I want to become a physical education teacher in the future. I want to participate in national and world-class competitions. I will continue to run and create a brilliant life with my own legs,” said Ayishuwake gratefully. She hopes to become a beam of light, illuminating herself and others.