Dr Zairi Zaidi
The Reality Beneath the Surface
Not every battle in life can be seen from the outside.
To most people, I appeared completely fine. I could walk normally and move through life like everyone else. But since childhood, my vision had never fully recovered after an infection permanently affected my eyes.
For years, I rarely spoke about it. Some conditions are difficult for others to understand when they cannot immediately see them.
Growing up with this condition taught me something early: not every limitation has to define what a person can become.
The Years That Shaped Me
School and university were where that lesson became real.
Inside the classroom, I could barely see what was written on the board or displayed on the screen. While others learned visually, I relied heavily on listening, memory, and adaptation.
Sometimes I borrowed notes from friends and copied them during class. Other times, I took photos using my phone and rewrote everything later. Much of my learning happened after class, not during it.
While many students could return home and rest, I often had to spend additional hours understanding what had been taught earlier.
It was difficult, but it taught me to work with what I had rather than focus on what I lacked.
To me, education was never simply about grades. It taught me how to keep moving forward when the path was not always easy.
Beyond the Borders of Home
Since my school years, I had always dreamed of studying abroad.
I wanted to experience a different part of the world, encounter different ideas, and see life from a wider perspective.
After completing my undergraduate studies in Malaysia, I continued with my master's degree in the United Kingdom.
Living abroad came with its own challenges, particularly with my visual condition. But adapting had already become part of my life.
More importantly, being exposed to different cultures and ways of thinking changed my understanding of the world. It made me realise how much there is to learn beyond the environment in which we grow up.
The Highest Mountain
After completing my master's degree, I continued my journey into a PhD.
It became the most intellectually demanding phase of my life.
A PhD is far more than academic research. It requires patience, discipline, and the ability to continue when progress feels slow and uncertain.
There were long periods of thinking, questioning, researching, and sometimes simply trying to find the answer to a problem that refused to reveal itself.
Looking back, those years taught me something that went beyond academia: meaningful progress rarely happens quickly, and some of the most important journeys require us to keep going without knowing exactly when we will arrive.
The Chapter I Never Expected
A few years ago, I began experiencing something I could not fully understand at the time.
My thoughts became increasingly restless. I found myself worrying constantly, even over small things. Eventually, it began affecting my body as well — rapid heartbeat, chest discomfort, headaches, mental exhaustion, and an overwhelming desire to escape from my own state of mind.
At first, I did not realise that I was experiencing an anxiety disorder.
Eventually, I decided to seek professional help and walked into a psychiatric clinic at the hospital. From there, I began receiving psychiatric and psychological treatment.
Over time, I became more aware of my emotions, my thoughts, and the importance of understanding the mind honestly rather than simply trying to suppress what I was feeling.
Anxiety changed the way I understood myself.
It taught me that strength is not always about pushing through. Sometimes, it is about having the courage to acknowledge what is happening within us and seek help when we need it.
Sometimes, the mind becomes loud not to destroy us, but to force us to finally listen to ourselves.
The Fire That Never Went Out
Today, I am involved in building and running businesses across the digital space. I also work with entrepreneurs, helping them build and grow their businesses through digital solutions.
Alongside that, I share reflections on self-awareness, personal growth, and meaningful living through social media.
Looking back, I realise that every chapter of my life gave me something different.
My visual condition taught me to adapt.
Education taught me discipline.
Living abroad expanded my perspective.
My PhD taught me endurance.
Anxiety taught me self-awareness.
None of these experiences happened exactly as I would have chosen them. But together, they shaped the way I see life today.
I have never been particularly interested in giving people empty motivation. What matters more to me is perspective.
Because sometimes, we are far more capable than we realise.
And perhaps one of the greatest responsibilities we have in life is to make full use of the abilities we have been given, while we still have the chance to do so.
Let's Get in Touch
Featured In
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
None of what is shared here would have been possible without the will of God, and the countless contributions, sacrifices, and kindness of my parents, teachers, friends, and the many individuals behind the scenes who have supported me. Always remember that no meaningful journey is ever made alone. Behind it are people whose presence, support, sacrifices, and prayers made it possible.