Disabled student inspires with optimism

Over the past year, Li Aichun overcame physical challenges to post more than 200 short videos online that touch the hearts of netizens with inspirational words and stories.

Li, 20, a junior student at Changchun Humanities and Science College in Changchun, Jilin province, has difficulty walking and speaking because of damage to her nervous system caused by a high fever.

The disease robbed her of many physical functions but it did not damage her mind.

To fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor, she has studied hard from primary school to senior high school and was admitted to the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine's Resources and Development at Changchun Humanities and Science College in 2019.

Always industrious, she joined a speech activity with the theme of self-confidence and self-reliance in her first year at college. When she told stories based on her own experience, she won warm applause, even though she spoke slowly and with many pauses.

"I knew she had practiced numerous times before she stepped on the platform," her classmate Chou Mingyu said. "We were all moved by her confident smile."

Since she cannot control her hands fully, she has difficulty writing efficiently, but she refused to apply for any time extension for her exams. Even so, she has scored well on every exam over the past three years.

She also registered for a volunteer, participating in various service activities that the college held in the city's nursing homes and special education schools.

Starting last year, Li has been recording short videos and posting them online.

In the videos, she smiles and speaks confidently with inspiring and heartwarming words.

Even though a video lasts only a few seconds, Li spent lots of time carefully preparing and practicing.

"I hope to pass my optimism and inspiration to more people and encourage them," she said.