UBC student blinded by domestic attack graduates from law school

As Rumana Monzur was guided to thepodium to givea speech to fellow law graduates at the University of British Columbia, a hush fell over thecrowd of more than 1,000 people gathered atthe Chan Shun Concert Hall.

Monzurhad come a long way since she was savagely attacked by her then-husband in Bangladesh on a visit home in 2011. He gouged out her eyes, permanently blinding her.

But Monzur, 38, persevered, returning to Canada to continueher studies. Two years later, she started law studiesat UBC.

On Wednesday, she graduated from thePeter A. AllardSchool ofLaw.

"As a result of this horrendous attack, and life-threatening attack, I became blind.I never saw the world again," Monzurtold the assembly, which included her 11-year-old daughter.

Monzur spared the audiencethe graphic details of her husband's attack: howher husband not only gouged her eyes, butbit off the tip of her nose as their daughter watched.

The attack was sparked after her husband grew enraged because Monzur had told him she'd be returning to Canada to continue her education. At the time, she was taking a master's at UBC.

Monzur made international headlines when she spoke about the attack from her hospital bed.

When she returned to Canada with her daughter, she learned her husband had been caughtand had died of a heart attack while awaiting trial.

'UBC gave me direction'

In her speech, Monzursaid manypeople at the university helped her after the attack.

"UBC gave me directionwhen I was lost," she said in her speech.

"It would not be possible for me to get through law schoolwithout the support of my UBC family."

One personMonzurthanked in particular was CatherineDauvergne, dean of the Allard School of Law.

"It was exciting this morning.I cried," Dauvergne said after the ceremony as shepraisedMonzur. "She's very unique, she's forged her own path forward, and I can't think of another person who could've done it in the same way."

Outside the concert hall, Monzurembraced the students she'd come to know over the course of the program.

Many of her classmates dedicated their time to guideher to class or helpher find her professors'offices.

"She is a student who's made a very strong impression on her classmates," saidDauvergne.

"I think she probably knows the name of everyone in her graduating class."

Monzur completed her degree with the help of specialized computer programs and volunteer student services designed to help blind people study.

In September, shebegins articling at aninternational law firm in Vancouver. Monzurhasn't decided what kind of law she wants to pursue.

She's focused on her future, empowered by a new outlook on the attack that changed her life six years ago.

"I've gained a perspective.... I actually feel that I have lost my sight but I have gained vision. I feel different people have different challenges and this is my challenge," she told CBC's On the Coast host Stephen Quinn.

"The important thing for me is how you face your challenges,and I want to do it with a smiling face."