Watch A Colorblind Student See Color The First Time — All Thanks To Her Math Teacher

Watch a Colorblind Student See Color the First Time — All Thanks to Her Math Teacher

This particular article is part of a series on The Seventy Four that features inspiring stories of heroes, victories, success, and acts of kindness taking place in schools across America. To read more inspiring stories, visit The74million.org/series/inspiring.

When Emily Hrina, a sophomore at Canfield High School in Ohio, turned 13, she discovered that she was colorblind.

However, now at the age of 16, her world has become more vibrant and colorful, all thanks to a life-altering suggestion from her math teacher, Carl Pennington.

Pennington uses a "smart board" in his classes that incorporates various colors. For Hrina, who could only perceive yellow and blue, the board presented a unique challenge. Pennington recalled, "We were halfway through the semester, and one of the other students mentioned that Emily is colorblind, and there I was in the midst of a classroom filled with colors."

Being aware of special eyeglasses that enable colorblind individuals to see a wider range of colors, Pennington shared this information with Hrina’s parents. As a result, they surprised their daughter with a special Christmas gift – a pair of unique glasses.

When Hrina unwrapped her gift and put on the glasses, a whole new world opened up before her eyes. For the first time, she could see the various shades in the brightly decorated Christmas tree. The experience left her in awe of the wide array of colors – from red to green.

She vividly recalls her astonishment when holding up a green colored pencil she had also received as a Christmas gift, exclaiming to her mom, "Mom, what is this? I’ve never seen this before!"

Now, Hrina perceives a wider spectrum of color. During an interview with a local TV station, she was able to notice the different hues of red within the leaves of a dying poinsettia.

She is also creating a list of things she is eager to see for the first time, including a rainbow and a visit to a local park in the spring.

Reflecting on her newfound ability, Hrina expresses, "Everything appears so much more beautiful to me now than I had ever imagined."

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Author

  • abbiekaur

    Abbie Kaur is a 33-year-old blogger and volunteer from California. She is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, with a degree in sociology. Abbie is a dedicated advocate for education and volunteerism, and has been involved in numerous community programs throughout her life. She currently volunteers with a number of local organizations, and is also a regular contributor to various blogs and online publications.

abbiekaur

abbiekaur

Abbie Kaur is a 33-year-old blogger and volunteer from California. She is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, with a degree in sociology. Abbie is a dedicated advocate for education and volunteerism, and has been involved in numerous community programs throughout her life. She currently volunteers with a number of local organizations, and is also a regular contributor to various blogs and online publications.

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