Awarding a hearing-impaired student for her incredible achievement for drawing a beautiful picture won me over. seeing that she is receiving appreciation for her work while smiling sweetly reminded me that sometimes emotions need no words to be expressed.
Her drawings were a Testament to her: extremely creative, expressive, and very strong. During these moments, I didn’t see the disability, but the strength, the talent, and the very youthful mind full of dreams. It was very humbling to see how, with the help of determination and creativity, one can overcome all the obstacles.
We often forget to recognize this strength in our society. It is not merely the achievement of an award that matters in encouraging differently abled children. It is to make them feel that they have been seen, appreciated, and believed in. And by doing so, it is us who become better human beings.
That small gesture of recognizing her talent and skills made an enduring effect on me. It made me realize that the essence of a caring and human community lies in the principles of kindness and compassion.
- Sunil Mangal
