Peak Viprakasit’s albinism was not an impediment to founding a cosmetic startup
I arrived to class slightly late, realizing that the only available seat was the one at the back of the classroom.
I knew I wasn’t able to clearly read the board, however, I always hesitated to take any actions at all.
The same occurrence repeated itself for several years as I struggled my way through elementary school, having to walk to the front of the classroom constantly to take notes. As a naturally slow reader, this did not make my experience in the classroom any more pleasant. I tended to miss a lot of information from each of the classes and often found myself having to copy notes off my classmates.
I didn’t figure how significant this setback was until my seventh-grade year came along. Having to take a standardized test under regular conditions, I simply could not match my peers’ performances. The reading test was simply the worst for me especially because the font was extremely small and the time was very limited. As expected, I bombed it. Seeing the results around 2 weeks afterwards was emotionally draining.
That moment was a wake-up call for me. I know school only gets more difficult as I move on through my academic career and as optimistic as I am, I realized I cannot leave this matter alone. From then, I sought extra help from my teachers and discussed the problems I had been facing in the past and came up with solutions that perhaps changed my learning experience forever. Receiving preferred seating has really enhanced my learning experience in the classroom. I didn’t have to move around and was able to keep up with the pace of the classroom more conveniently.
I never knew how approachable and understanding school teachers can be and this really changed my perspective on student-teacher relationships.
This not only supported me in the classroom, but also when it comes to test accommodations as well. With the help of my teachers, I was approved for extra time and large print for standardized testing which made my experience in this field much less stressful.
Considering all of the struggles I’ve faced in school growing up and knowing that the solution is right in front of me, I imagined how difficult it must be for people with albinism or visual impairment that are less fortunate than I am. After doing my research and coming across Beyond Suncare, I knew that this organization genuinely cares about helping the lives of children with albinism in many different aspects including special education.
Sharing the same vision, I, along with my startup, PeakLabs have been consistent contributors , in hope to make education for children with albinism as convenient and enjoyable as possible.
Peak Viprakasit
Peak Labs founder and collaborator of Beyond Suncare
