There are many aspects of my life which I can be thankful for.

The fact that I attend a very prestigious school and am fortunate enough to have such technology as a laptop (computer) with speech capabilities for doing most of my work, and a special braille printer called an embosser that allows me to read the work that I have prepared on my laptop.

I also have a very accomplished aide who assists me by preparing my school work for me each day. Her preparation allows me to carry out my work unassisted, for the most part, by either using the computer or by reading braille.

I need this type of assistance because I am blind. I am quite well aware that there are many other blind people in the world who are far less fortunate than I am.

I am thankful for those generous people who assist me by donating money to help pay for my equipment, books and the salary of my aide. Attending my school requires a great deal of money, and without the help of my sponsors I would be unable to attend school here.

I am also very thankful for the guidance my parents give to me in abundance. They are always there to support me practically or to cheer me on when I find myself overwhelmed. They are wonderful parents and their assistance is immeasurable. I only wish that other people had the kind of parents that I have.

From the specific, I switch to the general; the things that most people in Bermuda should be thankful for are the freedoms that most Eastern countries do not have. We as Bermudians generally take for granted all the wonderful things that our Island provides us with.

Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, we live in a society that allows us the freedom of speech. We can vote for the government party of our choice without fear of reprisal. We can meet in public and discuss any issue without looking over our shoulder. Our country is one of the most affluent in the world. Most of us living here have the money to buy anything and everything that we wish for.

On a personal level, I am thankful that I am a healthy person. Being blind is definitely challenging sometimes, but I have access to the most amazing opportunities. Opportunities that other children never get.

I remember as a young boy, I was invited along with a friend who is also blind to visit the tracking station at Cooper's Island. We witnessed the last shuttle launching that was controlled by Bermuda. I sat in the control room before the launch and assisted in calling up all the ground stations around the world to check their readiness before the launch. How many regular people get to do that.

Matthew Johnson