Growing up in a society where children with disabilities are ignored was the moment I decided to make a change. There was no school for disabled children in my area before my elder brother was born.

The day my parents found out that he was deaf was the most unforgettable day of their lives. Later, he became the reason other children could get an education. Because of my paternal uncle’s efforts, a branch of Al-Mudassar Special Education Center was opened in Barnala, AJ&K. Many children who could have been left uneducated became students there.

The school was doing well until a sudden increase in transport costs led to a rise in dropouts. Many mentally disabled and deaf students were taken out of school by their parents, leaving them without an education.

The school building was very small and damaged, and the administration could do nothing without the support of the people in my area.

The teachers taught and cared for every student, even on a very small salary.

The most heartbreaking moment was on result day. Parents were called to the school, but no one came except a few. And what about their children? Their eyes were waiting for their parents. Their hands were waiting to tell their classmates, "My parents came."

_All they need is appreciation._

That day I saw how unkind my society could be, and how unresponsive some parents were.

But the teachers’ hard work paid off when their students secured the highest marks in the board exams. They proved that it does not matter whether you come from a poor background or a rich one — hard work always pays off.

Still, all these students need is appreciation.

People often ask me what I want to become. I always say an Assistant Commissioner. This is the position where I can bring real change to my society. I can provide facilities from free transport to scholarships and job opportunities, so that these children are never left behind in this difficult world.

_Written by Laiba Munawar, Grade 10th, KIPS College Barnala, AJ&K_