"We were looking for young people who have an inner a strength that will allow them to continue to overcome challenges," Gail Levin, the Annenberg Foundation Executive Director, said,
Brittany Blythe, a senior at Strath Haven High School in Wallingford, was born without thumbs or shinbones; she had to have her legs amputated at age 2.
Brittany's mother died two years ago., but she never wasted one second feeling sorry for herself; she became a cheerleader, a model, and earns A's and B's in school.
"I want to do some type of law, I want to do some type of teaching, probably elementary school teaching, and I want to do counseling for high school students," Brittany said.
Areej Hassan is a senior at Norheast High. Her parents fled Sudan when she was an infant, then moved to Phila.when she was 9.
By 7th grade, Areej was a straight-A student, and hopes to attend Penn or Harvard, where she took classes this summer.
She can't decide yet whether she wants to be a doctor or a lawyer, but she knows she wants to take her skills back to Sudan.
"I just want to go back and help all those poor sick people and if I do choose to become a lawyer then justice is also needed in Sudan, as well," Areei said.
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