DEARBORN – Henry Ford Community College student Khodr Farhat is blind but still manages to academically perform better than his peers. 

“It has never stopped me. Nothing can stop me. I don’t know the meaning of failure, to be honest. Whether it is in class or on a test, I really don’t know the meaning of failing and not achieving something,” he said. 

Farhat, 20, was born blind and emigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 2009. Since then, he has taken full advantage of every opportunity he gets. He says in Lebanon the resources and educational opportunities for the blind are inadequate. 

“I didn’t give up in Lebanon with limited resources, and now there is more opportunity here, so I’m taking advantage of it,” he said. 

Farhat, a Dearborn resident, has a 4.0 GPA and is a graduate of Lincoln Park High School.

Khodr Farhat.

He’s optimistic about the future and looks forward to graduating from HFCC in the Fall 2014 semester with an associate’s degree, and then transferring to a university in hopes of obtaining a master’s or doctorate degree that will enable him to help other visually impaired individuals. 

He has received several awards and recognitions for his academic success. He feels strongly about giving back to the community and volunteers his time at the Detroit Medical Center and other places to help the blind. He also works for the non-profit organization iChallenged, a group that was established to assist those with visual impairments in meeting their full potential in life. “I have done all this, and it is just the beginning,” he said. 

Farhat says too often people underestimate the blind and those who are visually impaired in terms of what they are capable of accomplishing. 

“Blind people can do anything that anybody can do, and they can even do it better when it comes to mental abilities. When it comes to biology, science, physics, all these things we can do just as good or even better than anybody else. Give them an opportunity, don’t judge them,” Farhat said. 

“I don’t want society to think that people who are blind, they cannot do it. Mentally we can do anything, so of course we can’t be a driver, of course we cannot be something that deals with vision but we can be the brain.” 

Numerous blind and visually impaired individuals go on to pursue professional careers as lawyers, doctors, educators and psychologists. 

Farhat says it is disappointing to see students who don’t have a disability not putting more effort into their schoolwork and dreams. 

“A lot of students don’t realize the opportunities they have. I feel sorry for them,” he said. 

Not all blind people are as hopeful about their futures or have the same positive attitude as Farhat.   

“I know it is hard, and it is definitely not fun, but on the other hand, they can do it. I want people with the same disability as me to have a positive attitude,” he said. 

In his free time, Farhat enjoys listening to music, playing video games and hanging out with friends. 

To many of his friends and family, he has become a trusted and inspirational confidant they rely and depend on for good advice and motivation. 

“God took one thing and gave me a lot of other things,” he said. 

Farhat says he’s worried that a lot of people who are visually impaired don’t have access to enough job opportunities, and is urging employers to consider them more often. 

“I would urge them to try us first without hesitating,” he said.