Day 239 - 2/10/11

Woohoo! I actually post a blog on the day of. Hehe! I have uploaded another video of something I did tonight because honestly a picture would not do tonight justice.

Tonight, the Leading Edge program visited the Louisiana School of the Visually Impaired and helped them with their Valentine's Day dance. This is was one of those truly humbling nights that I am so glad to have been a part of. LSVI is a school that focuses on educating kids who are classified as legally blind. But it is astounding how similar these kids are to me. For all those who have their own predisposed judgments about handicapped children, I challenge you to visit a place like this and watch how these amazing children will completely rise above and beyond what you expected, socially and academically. For some of these kids, you would not even know they were disabled. They all like to dance (dougie especially). They all like to talk and share their experiences. As a part of a 40+ group of college students, I could tell that all their faces lit up as we entered the room to see him. To be a part of a rare opportunity to share a piece of us with them and for them to share a piece of themselves with us. However, here's the kicker with these children at LSVI...their vision never holds them back. Sure, they may need assistance but being visually impaired will never be their excuse for not striving to succeed. Each of them have their own goals and aspirations and they don't quit. Upon arrival to LSVI, the group of us got a chance to have a Q&A session with a group of them. Four students, three high seniors and one junior. Let me tell you that these teens know where they want to go in life. They have direction. They have passion. It is remarkable to see how their lives are beyond their limitations. It just further instills in me that there truly is no excuse that should hold me back from goals. They are truly an inspiration to me and I only hope that people can try them as respectful members of society because they truly deserve to be.