He stood there staring intently at me. I smiled apprehensively, unsure of how to approach him. My eyes traced over his frail body, his oversized clothes, his lopsided glasses and the slight drool on the side of his mouth. I was scared. How should I introduce myself? Does he even know I am standing here? How would he react?
             Slowly I bent down to eye level with him and awkwardly held out my arms to him. Slowly but deliberately, I said, "Goran, my name is Stephanie...we will spend the next few days together to chat and play." His eyes keenly studied the contours of my face, but he remained motionless. The seconds ticked by, though it seemed like a lifetime. Finally, he flashed me a goofy grin which melted my heart and broke the ice between us.
             Spending time with Goran gave me the most profound experience of my life. He is a mentally handicapped ten-year-old boy with barely the IQ of a three-year-old. Unable to take care of himself or perform simple tasks, he is helpless in our society. With constant asthma attacks and frequent nosebleeds due to dehydration, Goran's daily life is one of never-ending struggle and frustration. Yet despite the adversities he faces daily, his optimism and spirit have not been dampened. Goran has a keen sense of compassion and immeasurable capacity to love. He shows this through his warm hugs and the way he offers his hand for me to hold. He has even mastered the skill of blowing fly kisses. Spending time with Goran made me respect him for who he is and made me realize that in spite of his inadequacies, he too is a human being, capable of crying, laughing, and of feeling joy and sadness.
             The happy moments I spent with Goran were vividly etched in my mind. Through sharing experiences together, I gave him the feeling that he was wonderful and loved, and he taught me how to strive under adverse situations, to create and cherish happy moments in life. I remember one experience when we made a kite out of c...