Presidential Education Award: Chou Hsuan-wei Sings Original Song, Tsai Yung-hsin Shares Embracing Vulnerability Amidst Pain

(CNA) Taipei, July 3rd) The 2026 Presidential Education Award ceremony was held at the Presidential Office today. Chou Hsuan-wei, a high school recipient who is completely blind, requested to sing his original song "Little Grass" live for President Lai, expressing his perseverance in adversity through song. Tsai Yung-hsin, a student at National Taiwan Normal University who suffers from daily pain, shared her life journey of coexisting with illness and learning to embrace vulnerability, hoping society will recognize the strength of vulnerability and speak up for educators.

The 2026 Presidential Education Award ceremony took place at the Presidential Office this afternoon, where President Lai personally presented the awards to 60 students nationwide who have overcome adversity and strived for academic excellence. The President stated that each award-winning student is extraordinary and has performed exceptionally. From their award-winning stories, it is evident that although they have encountered different challenges in their growth, they have all demonstrated immense courage and perseverance, overcoming various difficulties and writing remarkable life stories.

High school recipient Chou Hsuan-wei became completely blind due to premature birth but has continued on his musical path with strong willpower. In his written acceptance speech, he expressed his hope to "use my own faint light to illuminate hearts and become a little sun in people's hearts," aspiring to become a versatile blind musician in the future.

After receiving his award, Chou Hsuan-wei proactively asked President Lai for permission to perform a segment of his original song "Little Grass" on the spot. He stated that he is a "little sun of music" and although he cannot see this beautiful world, he hopes to warm more people through his music. He named the song "Little Grass" to describe himself as a blade of grass that, despite enduring wind and rain, does not retreat and stands tall.

Without live accompaniment, Chou Hsuan-wei began to sing a cappella, his sincere voice echoing through the ceremony hall, earning warm applause from the distinguished guests.

Another recipient is Tsai Yung-hsin, a student at National Taiwan Normal University. Due to congenital spinal and lower limb underdevelopment, she lives with constant pain every day. However, her physical limitations have not hindered her academic progress; she is double-majoring in Fine Arts and History, and is also pursuing an education program.

As Tsai Yung-hsin pushed her wheelchair to the stage to receive her award, she said she hopes the public can also see her sensitive and thoughtful side, "I hope everyone can allow themselves to be vulnerable." She stated that her name means "singing the morning light," but for a long time, she could not identify with this imagery because "the night has never left my life."

Tsai Yung-hsin described how years of illness brought countless sleepless nights that lasted until dawn, and what followed was not hope, but day after day of seemingly endless suffering. She admitted that to meet societal expectations, she had tried hard to portray herself as sunny and cheerful in the eyes of others, but what she truly wanted to express were the real hardships and vulnerabilities in her life.

Tsai Yung-hsin quoted Mother Teresa's prayer: "May God shatter my heart completely, so that the whole world can enter." She said that through this, she learned to embrace vulnerability and believes that if the suffering in life were a lottery with 8 billion participants, she is fortunate to be the one who drew the ticket, because she has a warm family and supportive relationships that have allowed her to reach this point.

Tsai Yung-hsin also thanked her family and teachers who have accompanied her all along, expressing gratitude to her family for seeing her "complete self" and nurturing her with sincerity, allowing her to grow freely beyond labels. She also thanked her teachers for their respectful companionship, becoming role models for her in helping others.

In addition to sharing her life story, Tsai Yung-hsin also appealed to President Lai, hoping that the government will continue to support the dedicated workers in the education system, protect teachers' rights, and encourage more people to engage in helping professions.

Tsai Yung-hsin said she aspires to be "a person with imagination for the suffering of others," not forgetting the hardships she has endured, and hopes to tell her story to those still in darkness. What she wants to convey is not just about bright and moving sunshine, but to tell those still in the night that "even when the sky is extremely dark, one can believe that this ever-changing world always holds stories of transformation." (Edited by Lin Ke-lun, Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150703

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