ALAYNA Campbell might be legally blind, but she hasn't let that stop her from chasing her dreams.
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The Kangaroo Flat teenager inherited her parents Rayleen and Malcolm's passion for water skiing.
It has long been Alayna's aim to single ski unassisted.
That moment finally arrived about three weeks ago at Lake Eppalock.
It took her about three years to master.
But like everything Alayna chooses to do in life it was tackled with a steely resolve and unrelenting persistence.
The active teen says she never one to back away from a challenge.
"It felt pretty good," she said.
"There was a lot of yahooing going around the lake - there were plenty of happy people.
"I do like my water-skiing; it's great getting out there with my mum and day and brother (Tom).
"Getting out there just like anyone else would."
Alayna's lively and cheerful disposition defies her eventful and, at times, harsh first 17 years of life.
She was born with a small upper airway and spent the first three months of her life in intensive care.
Alayna had a tracheostomy until age three to help her breathe and also had a shunt placed in her head to relieve fluid build up.
About six years ago she began to lose her sight after her shunt failed.
Alayna now has just 10 per cent peripheral vision in her left eye and nothing in her right.
She is also hearing impaired.
Alayna, who on Monday begins the second of three years towards her VCE at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, participates in multiple sports.
She plays swish - a version of table tennis for vision impaired people - and a few months ago took up karate training.
There could be no prouder mother than Mrs Campbell, who says her daughter was nothing short of amazing.
"She's determined, amazing - I think she is going to grow up to be a beautiful young woman," she said.
"She's going to know where she wants to go (in life) and will have some good direction.
"Nothing will stop her - it never has.
"I don't think there is anything she won't conquer; if she wants it she'll grab it."
Alayna says the first stop on that journey will likely involve conquering a fresh set of goals on the skis.
Mother and daughter thanked everyone who had supported Alayna during the years.