7 questions with Naqi Rizvi

Why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?

My master's degree is called Technology Management (systems engineering management) - for starters, telling my friends about my degree sounds really fancy!

It's cool in a lot of ways and I wanted to pursue this branch of engineering despite my visual impairment because it is very broad, involves a lot of analytical and social skills, allows me to work in virtually any field, relates to my undergraduate degree in industrial engineering and gives me the opportunity to study under some of the coolest professors with vast knowledge and experience in the field of systems engineering.

When I graduate I would love to work in London and pursue a PhD too. I would ultimately like to be a professor and help shape students' futures by acting as their teacher, mentor and confidant. My mother has been a teacher for the past 22 years and listening to her stories really inspires me. My plans, however, are always changing and I don't know when something else will grab my interest!

What is the most interesting thing you've done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?

I read about TEDxUCL in the same month I came to UCL as an international student, in October 2015. I had always been fascinated by TED Talks and clicked on the application form. 

I wasn't sure if I would get selected and so was beyond happy when one of the organisers contacted me and requested a meeting! That was the start of what have been some of my best moments at UCL. I met with the team a few times in November and December and did my best to do them proud. I felt very privileged to be a speaker in an event that saw 1,000 attendees!

I always enjoy spreading the message of hope and believe that I can use my story to do that as I have faced lots of obstacles along my journey, particularly in academia, as I am completely blind, and studying science and engineering has never been easy.

You can see my TEDxUCL talk on YouTube.

Have you discovered any 'hidden gems' during your time in London?

Before coming to UCL in October of last year, I had never travelled to the West but I had heard lots of wonderful things about how accessible it was for people with special needs. That proved to be very true when I came to London! 

The past four months have opened a whole new world for me and have allowed me to try things like blind archery, visually impaired (VI) tennis, running with guide runners and so much more. London also has plays with audio descriptions!

London is a very diverse city and I have met people from virtually every part of the world. It is really interesting to see how people mix their home cultures with that of London to produce a beautiful mix.

Give us your top three things to do.

Try to spend a day blindfolded in your house to get a glimpse into the life of a visually challenged individual. I can promise that you'll begin to appreciate life a lot more. You'll become more empathetic not sympathetic towards differently abled persons.

Travel the world and interact with people on streets and in public places. I have met some random people on the street who have made me see the world differently. Meet rich and poor people, the physically abled and disabled, the polite and rude too!

Try out things even if you don't like them. You never know what might become your passion! I never thought running long-distance, tennis, public speaking, international politics, rock climbing and bungee jumping would become things that I love doing!

There are limitless opportunities and there are things that constrain us in life. For me, it is my sight that constrains me, but my vision drives me forward and makes me explore the wonders of this world! You can also break the shackles that hold you back and enjoy the wonders of this fascinating world!

If you were Provost for the day what one thing would you do?

Being Provost of one of the world's most prestigious universities would be very auspicious to say the least. I guess my day would finish with lots of bruises on my skin as I would pinch myself all day out of sheer disbelief!

On a more serious note, I would reduce tuition fees and give more scholarships to people from developing countries. Studying at UCL has been a very enriching experience for me, so I would like to give more bright students this opportunity. 

I would also put pressure on the UK government to give two-year work permits to all non-EU graduates. Allowing them to find work in the UK would mean that the pool of talent that UCL creates with every cohort of graduates can be utilised more effectively.

Who inspires you and why?

Every person that I have met or read about has shaped my personality; some more than others. There are several people that I look up to, but the one that tops the list is Hussain Ibne Ali, the grandson of the holy Prophet of Islam (Mohammad). He is a man who showed steadfastness in the harshest of times. He lived under a very oppressive and illegitimate ruler who tried to get Hussain's allegiance. Hussain did not submit to tyranny and preferred to die rather than remain silent.

Even though he had an army of 72 people that fought the 30,000 strong enemy, he emerged victorious. His entire army was brutally martyred, but 1,400 years on his name is used with pride as he stood for truth, justice, human rights, freedom of thought, patience and courage.

I would like to embody some of his traits as I face lots of difficulties in my life and his example has always served as a model for me to emulate.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I look at my blindness as a strength and enjoy making jokes about it! Life is too complex to take anything too seriously. I like to tell people that I cannot see but I still choose my own clothes every day, play sports, study engineering, commute to most places on my own and really enjoy eating ice cream in the cold!