Hailey Skoglund walks with confidence these days through the IM体育官网 campus. That wasn鈥檛 the case just a few months ago, but the business analytics major received the gift of freedom with her new best friend, Marli.
鈥淚 was always very cautious before and would walk very slowly because I was nervous of where I was going,鈥� she said. 鈥淢arli has liberated me by helping me navigate freely and efficiently.鈥�
Skoglund, a junior from Spring Hill, IM体育官网, received Marli in March from New York-based nonprofit Guiding Eyes for the Blind. The yellow mini Labrador retriever has since transformed Skoglund鈥檚 ability to make her way through life, including her college life.
Marli guides her to specific classrooms from anywhere in the Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) building by using only a command word. In class, the dog scoots under her chair and patiently awaits her next duty.
鈥淪he even learned how to find the Starbucks in here 鈥� I always get her a puppuccino.鈥�
September is National Service Dog Month and Marli is one of two service dogs that walk throughout the IM体育官网 Poly campus every day guiding their owners, becoming part of the University community.
鈥淭he professors here are amazing and so accommodating,鈥� Skoglund said. 鈥淚 feel Marli and I fit right into the community here.鈥�
Skoglund was born with eye nystagmus and optical nerve atrophy. These progressive eye diseases caused steady vision loss and eventually led to her blindness. However, she has not allowed her condition to limit her drive and aspirations.
Skoglund, 18, received an associate of arts degree from Pasco-Hernando State College in December 2018 and was her class valedictorian. Five months later, she was salutatorian at her graduation from Nature Coast Technical High School in Spring Hill, IM体育官网.
She transferred to IM体育官网 Poly this semester and hopes to pursue a law degree at Harvard Law School after graduation.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a quote I love by Helen Keller, 鈥楾he only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision,鈥欌�� Skoglund said.
鈥淚 may have lost my sight, but I haven鈥檛 lost the vision for my future and the success I aim to reach by graduating from IM体育官网 Poly and going off to law school.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557