Things denied or delayed: They’re fuel for Aria Mia Loberti.

The first legally blind United Nations Youth Delegate, Loberti has been a delegate at the U.N. International Human Rights Summit, representing the U.S. and women with disabilities. She works with U.N. Women to develop new activist student organizations on college campuses and strengthen academic research on women with disabilities.

In February 2016, she was named a U.N. Outstanding Youth for her academic skill, written statements, leadership, public service and contributions to the U.N.

The URI sophomore takes 19 credits a semester in pursuit of three majors —biology, political science and communication studies. She is a teaching assistant in an introductory honors biology class, a biology lab and a URI 101 freshman seminar course.

A yoga teacher, Loberti teaches six, weekly yoga classes at Fascitelli Fitness and Wellness Center accompanied by her Labrador retriever, Ingrid. “Constant purpose is where I get happy,” Loberti said.

This March, she will make her second trip as U.S. representative to the Commission on the Status of Women: Youth Forum at the U.N.

“I’ve I learned that I can meet challenges. I cannot live and thrive without all of this activity. There are so many voices that do not get heard, and I am remiss if I don’t use my voice to help others.”