everythingsSHINY

수빈 (Su Bin)(left) stamps a Passport (Click to enlarge)On Wednesday, we had a student with Muscular Dystrophy, a 13-year-old (15 in Korean) girl named 수빈 (Su Bin). We have had several disabled children come through English Town, typically mild cases of mental retardation or kids deaf or blind and it's always business as usual.

수빈 (Su Bin) was unable to participate in the second half of the day because it requires students to move about English Town alone in the Mission Story and Mission Game segments. She is extraordinarily gifted in English and I wanted her to have some fun, so instead of having her sit out the last half of the day (as we often do with students unable to physically handle the Story and Game segments), I decided to have her join me in the Residence as my assistant so she could sit comfortably, join in the fun, and contribute. It required her to read the dialog as the role of the teacher and then stamp each passport as the students completed the task, something she took to with great enthusiasm and humor. We had a great time together and I've never seen a kid here laugh so much and so hard. In the beginning, she kept apologizing for missing the passports when she tried to stamp because her hands are so twisted and she couldn't control her movements well, but I kept reassuring her she was doing great . . . and with her classmates incredible support and encouragement, she did every single one . . . . more than 60 stamps. Amazing.

I did not do any filming as I felt it would be improper, but Su Yun came up and took some pictures so we could remember her.

수빈 (Su Bin)(left) plays teacher (Click to enlarge)

At the end of the day, I asked Su Bin what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said, "A lawyer." I nodded and asked, "Why?" She said, "Because people like you do so many nice things for me and I want to try hard to make a better world and help pay you all back."

I want to stress that I meet - every day - astounding children. Children with a lot of heart and kindness, and it's often difficult to see them go away at the end of the day. In my time here, a handful have really touched me - and I'll never forget them. When 수빈 (Su Bin) left, it was the first time I held back tears. I'll most likely never know her fate, but for a few hours, that little girl lifted me right out of the stratosphere and reminded me that a little courage goes a long way. I'm confident she's going to change a lot of lives.

A pretty special kid.