Just A Little Bit Awesome

Just A Little Bit Awesome

Future Reflections Convention Issue 2014 KIDS TAKING THE NEXT STEP
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Just A Little Bit Awesome
by Hank Miller
Introduction by Carol Castellano: The first speaker on our kids' panel is heading into eighth grade in the fall. He is from New Jersey. You might have heard his name once or twice around this convention. Here is Hank Miller. And I'd like to add that Hank is reading his speech in Braille! [Applause]
Hi. My name is Hank Miller. I'm going into eighth grade. I'm thirteen years old, and I've been blind my entire life.
Six years ago my parents started fighting the school to get me Braille instruction. In 2011 they took the school to court, with help from the NFB. They won a year later. The school knows now not to mess with my mom! [Laughter]
Now I'm being taught Braille by my wonderful Braille instructor, who has been teaching me for two years. I have Braille class with her for an hour and a half every day. Spending so much time with my Braille teacher is why I can read this speech to you today.
So many people and organizations have helped prepare me for my future. The NFB helped me get Braille instruction, and I have learned so much! This is my fifth year coming to convention, and I love every bit of it! Convention is great because I get to see old friends again, and I get to make new ones, too. Next week I'll be going to the Buddy Program at the Louisiana Center for the Blind for the third time. The LCB definitely gave me a major boost. Also it's really fun. We learn to become independent travelers and to take care of things around the house, like cooking and cleaning. We also work on our Braille skills.
Now that you know about me and my past, let's get into the future. After high school I hope to get into a very good college. I already have a few in mind, like Rutgers or Monmouth University. After college I hope to become a scientist. Science has always been my favorite subject in school, and I think it would be lots of fun to learn more about it. I'd like to do research to see if I can cure any diseases. If that doesn't work out, I think it would be really cool to become a computer programmer. I'd like to develop programs that can help a variety of people. I enjoy computer class in school, and I'm pretty good at it.
I know I can go to any college I want and have any career I want because I'm getting good training now. I have met awesome role models on my journey. If you are new to the NFB, just remember that the NFB is awesome, and it has your back. Stick around, and your child could become as awesome as I am. [Laughter and applause]

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