Required reading, part II

Michelle Malkin always seems to throw one of these stories at you from time to time...break out the Kleenex.

Ryan was a special education student who would do anything to fit in and worked tirelessly to make that happen. His basketball career began as a ninth-grader passing out balls to the girls team. Then he hooked on with the boys team, getting there every morning at 6:30, helping out in drills, running the practice clock and cleaning up afterward.

...

Just before the last game of the year, Amundsen handed him his No. 12 uniform.

"He did it the right way. He earned it," Amundsen said. "You don't see that much these days."

With Ryan finally in the game, the chant grew even louder in the Clovis East gym.

...

The final seconds were ticking off the clock and Clovis East got the ball one last time. This time, Ryan found a spot just beyond the 3-point line to the left of the key. He got a pass, and turned to shoot.

The noisy gym quieted for a split second as the ball seemed to hang in the air forever.

Read the whole article so you can find out...the REST of the story.

I think everyone has stories of the 'special' kid in their class that they could rally around.  As a teenager, you are just beginning to see the world through different eyes and when you see a kid with some serious problems in your school, it starts to click as to how lucky you truly are. 

I can remember the kid from our graduating class, Eddie, walking up to receive his diploma, just like all the rest of us.  When Eddie first started his sophomore year with us...he stayed in the special class with virtually no contact.  He would yell...he wore a bicycle helmet to protect himself.  Eddie was in a bad way.  But, over the course of 3 years, the progress was incredible...and for him to take the long walk with the rest of us was, well, inspiring.  In fact, the graduation had to be halted for a short time, while the standing ovation quieted down from the students.