Seventeen-year-old Lia Turner was diagnosed with epilepsy seven years ago. Although living with a seizure disorder has had an impact on her life, it has never stopped her from pursuing her passions and dreams.
In fact, living with epilepsy has inspired Lia, who recently graduated from Aldershot High School in Burlington, to make a career helping others living with a seizure disorder. Her tenacity has also helped Lia earn a $1,000 OBCL Epilepsy Scholarship.
In the fall, Lia will be attending Carleton University in Ottawa. She plans to study cognitive science so she can help other people with epilepsy. Her scholarship is one step in helping Lia actualize her dream.
“My goal in life is not to hide from my disability but rather embrace it in this time of transition,” Lia says, adding she wants to incorporate her experience with epilepsy into her studies.
Lia says she has been interested in studying cognitive science for about two years.
Lia also says Epilepsy Ontario has helped open her eyes to a variety of possibilities. Through the organization she has written for Epilepsy Ontario’s blog in the Huffington Post and has shared her stories in previous editions of Voices of Epilepsy during the past year.
“For these opportunities, and the ones to come, I am eternally grateful,” she says.
Aside from her academic interests, Lia is actively involved with equestrianism. She has been riding horses since she was four, and rides competitively with her horse, Echo.
Lia underscores that what many people view as a disability has been a source of inspiration for her.
“I have never been more appreciative of my epilepsy, because it changed my life for the better,” she says. “It forced my perspective onto the goal of activism and making a difference, and that spirit of activism and change is something that I want people to see in me when I walk down the street.”
The OBCL Epilepsy Scholarship Awards were presented June 13 to six students in the province this year.
OBCL has been supporting students with epilepsy through the scholarship awards since 2006. Every year, up to 10 Ontario students win a $1,000 scholarship for post-secondary education. As part of their application package, students must submit a personal essay under that year’s theme.
Writer: Deron Hamel
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