Woman who cannot see is head of Qatar school for visually impaired

“If you trust God and have a strong will, you can overcome any challenge, ” said Hayat Khalil Hassan Nazar Heji.

Hayat Khalil Hassan Nazar Heji is the 34-year-old director of Qatar's Al Noor Institute for the Visually Impaired. Heji, who has been unable to see since fifth grade, studied English in the U.S., where she earned a doctorate in educational leadership before returning to lead the Noor Institute, which serves 430 students from preschool through sixth grade. Heji attributes her success to the support of family, teachers and others in her life. The New York Times (free registration)