Your disabilities don’t define you, your resilience does – Mahnoor’s story

A student sat opposite a help desk looking at a computer

“The road may be tough, but the experiences, knowledge, and personal growth you’ll gain are worth every struggle. The world is full of possibilities, and you have every right to explore them”, are the golden words of Mahnoor Fawad, a MSc Digital Marketing student at the University of Salford.

Read on further to understand how Mahnoor overcame challenges to achieve her dream of studying abroad. 

From Life-Changing Accident to Moving to a New Country

“Like every child, I had my own dreams of achieving the moon and stars. But life had some really different plans for me. Back in 2005 when I was only 7, I experienced a life-changing event - a road accident which led to a physical disability.

While I was recovering from this tragedy, I gathered my thoughts and decided I wanted to move to a different country for higher education. Although I have had to overcome a lot of challenges, selecting the UK and the University of Salford has been one of my best decisions.

The UK is the ideal place for me to push myself and broaden my horizons because of its rich cultural legacy. Each day I have been here has come with tests, such as figuring out public commuting and understanding the British accent. However, walking along the path while solving each challenge reminded me how far I have come after my accident."

Overcoming challenges

"Back home, I had my family. Here, I am learning to be more independent, taking on everything from groceries, cooking, and cleaning to managing daily routines on my own. 

During the initial couple of weeks of moving to the UK, traveling around was messy. But over the time, this has become one of the most exhilarating aspects of my experience. Although the UK has a fantastic transport network, traveling alone as a person with disability makes things difficult. I needed to smartly and sensibly plan my trips, ensuring that hotels, public transportation, and tourist attractions are accessible for me. 

Today at 26, I stand tall against all the odds I have faced. I am able to explore the world alone and live my life to the fullest.

The University of Salford’s Disability and Inclusion Service have been a real-life saver, offering me resources and support to help me flourish academically and personally. They have even arranged free taxi services and a personal assistant to ensure I have the access to everything I need. From arranging for taxi services to ensuring that everything is within reachable limits for me, their assistance has been extensive yet tailored, suiting my requirements. The most important part for them is their students and their comfort. The university doesn’t wait for me to ask for assistance, but rather asks if there's any additional value they can add to improve my experience."

Studying Digital Marketing at Salford

"My course MSc in Digital Marketing is very uniquely designed, offering the right mix of creativity with strategy. The curriculum blends both practical experience and theoretical learning, with a focus on digital trends and marketing technologies, which are a crucial skill in today’s evolving time. I’m truly excited for the insightful discussions with experts in the field, learning about innovative marketing techniques, and gaining hands-on experience through projects and case studies. During my, I want to build a strong foundation in digital marketing that will enable me to excel in my career."

Taking Every Situation as An Opportunity

"I am grateful for everything I have achieved today despite the challenges I have faced since my accident. I am rising in ways I never thought existed for me. The accident in 2005 was a turning point in my life, but it didn’t shape my dreams and future. I am excited to see what the future holds for me."