A visually impaired Year 7 student broke down on this week’s Educating Yorkshire, as her fears for an upcoming exam got too much to bear.
Young Lottie has a condition called monocular vision, meaning that she has no sight in one eye.
This has led to feelings of immense anxiety for the youngster, especially where loud and busy places are concerned.
‘The way I see things is blurry. And lights look like fireworks,’ Lottie explained on Sunday night’s episode of the Channel 4 programme.
‘I’ve lost full sight in one eye and have partial sight in the other. It looks like everything is moving, so I get really scared to go into the lunch hall and busy corridors.’
As Lottie prepared for an upcoming reading exam, she broke down in floods of tears, refusing to attend the assessment.
Called to assist, Year 7 Student Manager Miss Nurse attempted to talk Lottie down, reassuring her that she had ‘nothing to be afraid of.’
‘But I do,’ wept Lottie.
In tears, she continued: ‘It’s so hard. Everything’s hard for me.
‘I just always feel like all the pressure is put on me, even though everyone else has to do it as well, and it’s not just me.’
A sympathetic Miss Nurse accompanied Lottie to the assessment, where she sat down to take the test.
‘It’s your time to shine,’ Miss Nurse told the youth.
After building up her strength and confidence, Lottie was ultimately able to take the test, which she passed with flying colours.
‘It was on computers, so when there’s big paragraphs, all the lines just blur together, and it’s really hard.
‘But [Miss Nurse] gave me these headphones, which read out the text for me, so that I didn’t have to worry about my eyes.’
Afterwards, Miss Nurse revealed: ‘Lottie scored above average in the reading assessment, which is just fantastic.
‘I’ve always known that she’s got it in her.’
And, as the episode progressed, Lottie was also able to build on her newfound confidence, making a friend named Alfie and joining a lunchtime chess club with other students.
She even had a big idea of her own – spearheading a hair and beauty club, which proved to be a massive success with other students.
Misty-eyed viewers were thrilled to see Lottie’s progress, growing emotional as she came out of her shell to lead the hair and beauty club.
‘I couldn’t work in a school, I would be crying with Lottie,’ wrote holly82649091 on X.
‘Aww Lottie so brave many adults would not cope stay strong,’ said MomRocks50.
‘Poor Lottie, I feel for her,’ said AwesomeBlossomz.
‘Seeing Lottie blossoming is beautiful,’ commented jolodala1.
‘Bless little Lottie x the smile on her face at the end x im not crying you are,’ sobbed GillShaw10.
Reflecting on the day’s events, Lottie said: ‘High school can be a bit stressful sometimes. But I’m trying my best to believe in myself.
As the episode ended, she added: ‘I’m going to show everyone that I don’t care what people think.
‘I have new friends, and I want to show that even with my disability, I can still thrive.’
Educating Yorkshire airs at 8pm on Sundays on Channel 4.
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