 We are the Five Awesome Heroes. Welcome to our show. Hi, everyone. I'm Emily Anderson with the Bridging Program. Back again to be making more TV shows with the students in community connections. Today, you've already met the Five Awesome Heroes, or four of the Awesome Heroes in peer mentor Mieva. We are embarking on a new project. Last year, students interviewed and were interviewed by activist David Fry. He has already been working with our students this year, inspiring them to tell their stories. And we are going to start off with peer mentor Mieva sharing her story, and then she will hear the stories of the other students. And meanwhile, talk a little bit about why it's important for why David Fry really believes in people telling their stories as people with disabilities telling stories helps people change their minds and realize there are more ways that we are alike than not alike. And this can change laws, this can change policies, and this can make our world even more accessible for everyone. So, here is peer mentor Mieva. And here's peer mentor Mieva. I just want to also acknowledge this really great artwork that the group created when they first went out in the community at Topaz Weiss's Expressive Arts, Burlington. So this is the work of the Five Awesome Heroes. Mieva, please share us your story. Mieva was part of the workshop with David Fry, wrote her story, and I felt it was a great way to start things off today. Hi, my name is Mieva. I was born in Maine after a few years from living in San Diego. I moved to Vermont. My dream was to go to a public high school. It came true. During high school, I ment toward this sweet girl who had autism like me. I helped her with friendship skills and sharing by interacting with her. And I realized that's what I want to do. I want to work with kids and young adults with disabilities like me. That's so beautiful, Mieva. I love, first I always love what you write. You're so clear. You're such a wonderful expresser of your experience. And I love that now, last year you're in the bridging program as a high school student with a disability and you are now, have been hired back to be a peer mentor and be a support for the students in a way that, you know, I can't give the students the same sort of support that you can because you have been in the program. You also share things with the students that I don't. So I love that you are living your dream and I'm glad to be a part of it. And I'm just wondering if there's anything you'd like to add to the importance of sharing your story? Like, what else? Why is it important for people, for young people with disabilities to share their story? Yesterday I was writing something at my respite's house and her kids were like, Mieva, what are you writing? And I'm like, we all have a story. They're like, what's a story? And I believe we all have a story to share with the world so they can understand who we are and they don't judge us for our differences, disability or not. I believe we're all a lot alike from one another. You are such an inspirational speaker, Mieva. Well, I know there are other awesome heroes that are ready to share their story with you so I'm going to snap out and someone else will snap in. You ready? Mm-hmm. Okay, will you snap me out? Hi, my name is Mieva. I'm a peer mentor. I'm here with Kabrithika today to share her story. Okay. In my story, in I'd like to virtual, I'd like was the captain to for my captain. I like bullying, I'd like maths class, I'd like to dance to Macarena, I'd like to dance with Rose, I'd like to go into the mall, I'd like to watch the movie, I'd like, I'd like pizza. Thank you, Karithika, for sharing. I have a question for you. Yeah. What do you like about, is it called bachi? Bachi ball or something? Yeah. What do you like about it? How does it make you feel when you do it? Like as a hobby? Bachi ball? Yeah. How does it make you feel? Happy. Thank you so much for sharing. My name is Miyeva. I'm here with Kaden today to share her story. I'm going to read mine. I am poem. Thank you. The first one is I am crying. A nice person. And my person. The second one I wondered, which I don't know. The number three, I heard cars. I see flowers and guys. The fifth one, I don't know. And the sixth one, I'm crying. Nice. And my person. I have a question for you. What were you thinking that inspired you when you were writing your poem? Like the things you shared, what inspired you to write them? What inspired me was that I had a good feeling of writing because it definitely helped me. Writing? Yeah. Cool. It definitely helped me when I do like a hard time or like some short... Yeah. Thank you so much for sharing, Cadence. Thank you. You're welcome. Hi. My name is Miyeva. And I'm here with Carlton today to share his story. Hi. My name is Carlton Pham. I am 20 years old. I was born in Tunain for a month. I live with my parents and my brother and co-chester. I like to pray. He has one in New York. My favorite food is noodles. I have a job as a resource in real estate for a month. My favorite food is good and others are for Beatles and Jackson 5. Thank you so much, Carlton, for sharing. Yes. I have a question for you. You wrote about some hobbies in there. What's your favorite hobby to do? Okay. My favorite hobbies are... I want a spicy noodle. I'm a boy and a student. Thank you, Carlton, for sharing. Okay. I'm here with Autumn to share her story today. I am kind and smart and beautiful. I wonder what my job will be here in airplane. I see my grandma. I want to go to college. I am kind and smart and beautiful. I love dragonflies. I have a question for you. What do you like about dragonflies? Dragonflies are around in the sky. Thank you for sharing, Autumn. Hi. My name is Miyeva. I'm here to represent Gray today, who is apparently not here, but he's an amazing friend. He's really funny and he loves to do art and color rainbows. At Bridging, we have this wall full of rainbows of Gray's artwork. I think he's a great artist and an amazing person. Thank you, everyone, for watching.