In the sharing session with students, Mr. Peter Kammerer, Foreign Editor of South China Morning Post, spoke at length about his childhood, what it feels like to be disabled, how he overcame the challenges to achieve his goals in life, his visits to over 40 countries and his job.

Peter said disability should not preclude anyone from being equals and added “Goals are there to be attained. Each of us can, and must be allowed to, reach for whatever height we find challenging.”

Students were curious to learn more about visual impairment, how it affects life, and how Peter overcame the daily challenges. The first hand experience changed their views about persons with disabilities. “They are not helpless, as we think they are,” they said.

Students participating at the sharing session flocked to take pictures with Peter, who exemplifies what a blind person can achieve and excel. They now believe that persons with disabilities deserve an equal chance.

“The sharing by Mr. Peter Kammerer was highly inspiring. It is truly hard to imagine what he went through when he discovered his visual impairment at my age. However, as he pointed out, being visually impaired does not mean the end of the world. Due to technology advancement, there are tools to help Mr. Kammerer in doing his job.

It was fascinating to learn that he has a special computer program to assist him in writing. Mr. Kammerer emphasized that he wants to be treated like any other able-bodied person. I was really impressed that Mr. Kammerer was just like any other person: he has a job, a family and is content about it.

I found the brief discussion at the end most memorable. Mr. Kammerer said that he would have studied engineering were it not for his visual impairment and joked about the differences in income. I was curious because my parents always encourage me to choose a profession that ensures reasonable and stable income. I was taken aback when Mr. Kammerer asked me instead, ‘Well, how much money do you need?’ That was something I had never thought of, and is a question, I am sure, many teenagers and young adults have never considered before. Mr. Kammerer’s question has made me think about how much money I actually need. Most of us have been brought up in an environment where having more is always considered the best, but is that really the case?

The sharing with Mr. Kammerer was really rewarding. It has broadened my horizons about different social issues and the possibilities of different career choices. ”