By Deron Hamel
Adam Lin says living with epilepsy has made him more “resilient and determined” in pursuing his ambitions, including his goal of becoming a video game developer.
The Ottawa student says epilepsy has presented challenges throughout his educational journey, with unexpected seizures and medical appointments sometimes affecting his confidence and making it more difficult to keep up academically.
However, he says these challenges have also taught him to adapt, stay organized and persevere. In fact, Adam says epilepsy has been a source of “motivation” for him.
Adam is one of four recipients of a $1,500 Epilepsy Ontario scholarship sponsored by Waymo, which will help cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, software and other resources as he pursues his computer science studies. Adam says the funding will ease the financial burden of his education, allowing him to devote more time to developing his programming and game design skills while continuing to advocate for epilepsy awareness.
He says a career as a video game developer would combine his interests in creativity and technology, while also giving him an opportunity to make gaming more inclusive – something, he says, is important to him.
“I am especially interested in developing games that promote accessibility and inclusivity so that people of all abilities can enjoy them,” Adam tells Voices of Epilepsy.
“My goal is to build a career that combines technology, creativity and advocacy, using my education not only to create impactful games but also to inspire greater understanding and inclusion for people living with epilepsy.”
Beyond his career ambitions, Adam says he also hopes to use his experience living with epilepsy to educate others about the condition and challenge common misconceptions.
He says it’s important to him to share accurate information about epilepsy, help others learn seizure first aid and encourage conversations that reduce the stigma surrounding epilepsy.
Adam says he hopes that sharing his experiences and providing accurate information will help dispel misconceptions about epilepsy and make it easier for people living with the condition to feel understood and supported.
“I believe that greater awareness leads to greater understanding, making schools and communities more supportive for people living with epilepsy,” he says.
Reflecting on what he would tell his younger self, Adam says asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and he encourages others living with a seizure disorder to keep pursuing their goals despite setbacks.
“You may not always feel in control of your condition, but you will always have the power to choose how you respond to it,” he says.
Epilepsy Ontario would like to extend a sincere thank-you to Waymo for sponsoring our scholarships for the first time this year. Through Waymo’s generous support, four Ontario students living with epilepsy were each awarded a $1,500 scholarship to support their post-secondary education. We are grateful to Waymo for helping make these opportunities possible and for supporting students living with epilepsy across Ontario.
