For most graduating students, the college-admission season, usually in July and August, is a nervous time that is often described as a life-changing moment.

An anxious 18-year-old Peng Lanxi got his admission letter from Hunan University of Science and Technology on July 26, bringing his dream closer-making prosthetic limbs (假肢) more advanced and accessible to people like him. His mother Wang Chunmei couldn’t hold back her tears because she knew how her son had overcome the difficulties.

Peng Lanxi lost his legs in a car accident in 2005, when he was a baby. Having learned to walk using just his hands, he enjoys life as much as the teenagers around him. On his wheelchair, he plays basketball and badminton. Once a week, he goes for a 40-minute swim, and his best time for 100 meters is one minute and 15 seconds.

“I believe that obstacles (障碍) are there to be conquered. Someone says that life is like a mirror, and we get the best results when we smile at it,” Peng Lanxi says.

His story has gone viral (在网上快速传播的) on social media platform Sina Weibo, which has been viewed more than 19 million times and he won admiration from its users for his courage, determination and hard work. A user named Shuangpi comments that Peng lost his legs, but he doesn’t let that get in his way.

The official account of Hunan University of Science and Technology on the platform has even commented, “Welcome Peng to the university.” Lu Ming says that the school will help Peng to pursue his dream—to be a prosthetics engineer, a career that will change lives. Peng is not alone, as authorities have improved the presence of disabled people on mainstream campuses in recent years. 14,559 students facing physical challenges entered college last year. From 2016 to 2020, about 57,500 special needs students were admitted into universities, a more than 50 percent increase compared with the 2011-2015 period.

Les Brown was adopted by Mamie Brown, a kitchen worker and maid. Due to the learning disability, Les was placed in special education class throughout high school. Upon graduation, he became a city cleaner in Miami Beach. But he had a dream of being a DJ.

At night, he would take a radio to bed, listening to the talking DJs. He created an imaginary radio station in his tiny room with a hairbrush as his microphone, practicing introducing records to his ghost listeners.

One day, Les bravely went to the local radio station during his lunch break and told the manager he wanted to be a DJ. But the manager told him they had no job for him. The station manager assumed that he had seen the last of this young man. But he underestimated the depth of Les’s devotion to his goal. You see, Les had a higher purpose than simply wanting to be a DJ—buying a nicer house for his adoptive mother.

So Les returned to the station every day for a week, asking if there were any job openings. Finally the station manager gave in and took him on as an errand boy—at no pay. Les did whatever was asked of him at the station, and more. While hanging out with the DJs, he taught himself their hand movements on the control panel. Then, back in his bedroom at night, he practiced and prepared himself for the opportunity that he knew would present itself.

One afternoon, a DJ named Rock was drinking while on the air. Les was the only other person in the building. Only minutes after the program was on, the phone rang. It was the station manager Mr. Klein, who asked whether he knew how to work the controls in the studio. That afternoon, he impressed the audience and his general manager. From then on, Les went on to a successful career in broadcasting, politics, public speaking and television.

Many seniors feel pressured to go straight from high school to college, but Camden Olson, who graduated from the Latin School of Chicago in the US last year, didn’t give in. She decided to spend a gap year-taking a year off before college-raising a guide dog for Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Maine. The non - profit provides trained guide dogs to blind and visually - impaired (视力障碍的) people. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do.” Olson said.

It is becoming more and more popular among American teenagers to have a gap year. Some students use the year off to figure out what they want to do: travel the world or save money for college.

Olson is using her time to follow a passion she’s had since 7th grade. For years, she kept an eye on guide dog services until she came across the opportunity at Guiding Eyes. With support from her friends, family and teachers, Olson went for it. Olson’s volunteer work centers around Derby, a one-year-old black dog.

“My job is to raise him to be well-mannered and socialized,” she said. “Guide dogs can’t be distracted. They go everywhere with their visually-impaired owner. They give a blind person a lot of support, too.”

Of course, there’s an end in sight for Derby and Olson’s close bond. When Derby celebrates his own graduation, Olson will have to say goodbye to him.

“No doubt there will be tears, but, if he passes, I will be so happy for him to become a working dog,” she said.

While some do not agree that gap years are a good choice, Olson said she’s seen major success. In fact, she’ll be attending Princeton University soon and is thinking about majoring in biology.

“I think I’m already so much more mature than I was,” she said. “So many kids come back from gap years a lot more focused and prepared.”