​​​The first thing you notice about Aiden Klass is how tall he is. The second thing you notice is his beautiful deep voice and perfect enunciation. What you won't be able to tell from his imposing physique is that the talented psychology and music student overcame a mountain of obstacles to be able to graduate with a BA degree at Stellenbosch University (SU).

From dealing with severe visual impairment and physical challenges, combined with intense psychological stressors such as anxiety and insomnia throughout his studies, Klass also had to cope with the loss of his mom Kathleen during the Covid pandemic. When he became ill with Covid and missed two months of classes in his second year, he came close to giving up, he admits.

Klass and his older brother were both born with ocular albinism, a genetic condition that primarily affects the eyes. “My eyes are underdeveloped and sensitive to light and I have several blind spots. These features are linked to a condition called nystagmus where one's eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements," Klass explains. “To focus, especially on detail-oriented work, takes a humongous amount of concentration and effort."

The intense effort to control and regulate his vision sometimes results in high pressure within his eyes that lead to almost unbearable migraines. It was only when Klass got help through SU's Disability Unit, that he managed to find relief from this debilitating condition. 

“I was referred to Dr Annamarie Grundlingh, a very wise and supportive counsellor. Before I met her, I was incredibly emotional and in a lot of trouble. She went out of her way to help me and provided so much insight. Through her I learned that my eye condition had a psychological component and the tension in my eyes is related to anxiety. Learning about the triggers for anxiety allowed me to reduce physical pain. The calmer I became and the more control I felt I had, the less it had an impact. I could work and function more efficiently and collaborate with others."

Enabling people and technology

Grundlingh, a clinical psychologist and consultant at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development at SU, says she is in awe of Klass' resilience and perseverance. “From an insecure, anxious and socially alienated young student, he learnt to manage his adversities in a constructive way. Aiden managed to identify the triggers for his anxiety and feelings of worthlessness. He blossomed into a mature student who could hold his own in various settings," Grundlingh says.

Apart from benefiting from therapy and mentoring, Klass also credits the support of his lecturers, especially his voice lecturer Xander Kritzinger. “I owe so much to Kritzinger. He provided deeply sympathetic emotional support, especially after my mom died."

Klass is grateful for the many tools the University provided that enabled him to overcome challenges. “At school I struggled because I didn't have access to sufficient enabling technology. At SU's Music Department I was entrusted with a digital magnifier and a monitor that enlarge text. I was provided with a Lime Lighter, a modified laptop that sits on a music stand with a controller so I could digitally enlarge music and not have to worry about carrying around poster-sized copies of music."

Kritzinger approached the music shop Heuer Pianos in Stellenbosch to make a special stand for Klass' Lime Lighter. “Being two meters tall with poor vision means your posture is compromised when you must bend over to read music from a stand that is too low. The custom-made stand meant I could keep my posture and perform normally," he explains.

“It was wonderful to be able to express myself through singing. I could show my feelings and express myself through my performance and my musical creations. I always had great concerts because my lecturers gave me creative freedom."

The social support he received from SU helped him more than any medication he's ever taken, Klass insists. Apart from psychological counselling and assistance for his visual impairment, in his first year at SU, Klass also underwent extensive dental surgery at Tygerberg Hospital that stretched over several painful months due to the disruptions of the COVID pandemic.

Staying on course after COVID

After Klass contracted Covid, he lost a lot of weight and had no energy. “It was very traumatic, also because I was still reeling from my mom's sudden passing and financial worries. What got me through physically was breathing exercises I had learnt as a singer. In my weakened state I could still breathe due to the muscles and techniques I had developed in my vocal classes at SU."

Catching up after a sickbed of two months took a toll, Klass says. “I was working on all cylinders, and I ran myself ragged. I became depressed and overwhelmed by panic attacks and night terrors. Apart from therapy, a massive help during this time was the assistant SU provided me with to help me stay on course. Amy Miles spent hours every week with me, helping me with practical challenges and guiding me through complex academic tasks."

In his final year, Klass took on the teaching responsibility of a blind student, an experience he found very valuable. He ended the year on a high note with two distinctions in a subject he had struggled with.

Being surrounded by empathetic people made a world of difference, Klass says. “Because of my disability, I find it difficult to read body language and facial expressions. My solution is to be extra sensitive to people's tone of voice, inflection, volume and pitch. Over the past few years, much of my social anxiety was solved by just being around people who are accommodating and patient.

“I'll always be grateful for the strategies and coping mechanisms I've learnt from friends, colleagues, therapists, and mentors at SU. People like Amy, Annamarie, Xander and the team at the Disability Unit pushed me to keep my chin up and keep working to do my best."

Supportive family

Klass describes his brother as his “best friend and greatest supporter". Benjamin graduated from SU in 2018 with a degree in AgriSciences and is now pursuing a postgraduate qualification abroad. “Apart from his visual impairment, he also suffers from Aspergers, but that has never gotten him down. Our experiences are very similar – he started in a remedial school and later switched to a mainstream school. He has been unbelievably adaptable and eager to learn."

Growing up with supportive parents played a big part in the Klass boys' success. “Because of our eyesight problems, my dad Leonard spent hours reading to us when we were young. I remember having long and meaningful conversations with him – from politics and philosophy to economic theory. My mom was an accredited drama teacher but also a professional animator. We learnt to appreciate art and performance through her."

His Afrikaans “ouma" Helena Clark is also a huge inspiration, Klass adds. “She used to be an opera singer and was my voice teacher until university. She is a sprightly 98." Ouma Helena ​beamed with pride as she walked next to Klass to his graduation.

Klass is also grateful for the support of family in America and the Jewish Board of Deputies who made a big difference in his life.

Although he didn't plan a big celebration for graduation day, he was looking forward to meeting up with his Stellenbosch friends again. There were many staff and fellow students who were quite emotional to see Klass walk across the stage at SU's graduation ceremony on 25 March.

“Graduating is very vindicating," Klass says with a big smile. “Over the past few years, I often felt I was going to fall through the cracks. Reaching this milestone is the best feeling in the world."

PHOTO: Curt Ruiters