A Small Me, A Big Dream

　　We are incredibly proud to announce that our outstanding youth with a rare disorder, Chen Jin-Wei, has been honored as one of the 2023 Ten Outstanding Persons Award recipients. 

　　Upon receiving the news, tears of joy, joyful screams, and heartfelt cheers filled the room. Every tear reflected his courage, perseverance, and unwavering hard work - marking a truly special and unforgettable moment. 

　　Jing-Wei was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, but it never stopped him from pursuing his dreams. With unwavering determination, he fearlessly persevered investing both time and resources to travel from Dongshang to Toucheng to fulfill his dream of graduating from university. 

　　The word “challenge” defines his life and captures the essence of who he is. 

　　Accompanied by his grandmother and an assistant, Jing-Wei once embarked on a ten-day island tour before the pandemic. He traveled with numerous assistive devices, including an air mattress and a ventilator. Six hours into the journey, he remembers thinking to himself, “I want to go home.” Yet, as he took in the beautiful scenery unfolding at every stop, his mindset began to change. “I’m so glad I didn’t give up,” he later reflected. 

　　From this experience, he learned a powerful lesson. Jing-Wei encourages fellow patients to step outside their comfort zones without regret, because we never know if future opportunities will come again. He believes we should cherish what we have and learn to let go of what we have lost. As he often says, the things we deliberately search for are not always easy to find: everything in life comes and goes in its own time. 

　　While studying Digital Marketing at Lanyang Institute of Technology, Jing-Wei began to reflect deeply on his future. After graduating, he found that job hunting was filled with challenges, as many workplaces offered limited or no accessible facilities. With the guidance and unwavering support of his grandmother, he went on to establish Wheelchair Integrated Marketing Studio, creating his own path forward. 

　　Jing-Wei openly acknowledges that entrepreneurship is full of challenges, and venturing into business has never been an easy path. In the early days, he faced numerous obstacles - his studio was not yet well known, and societal stereotypes led potential clients to question the capabilities of people with disabilities. Trust began to grow only after working closely with clients and building strong, reliable relationships. 

　　With this foundation, Jing-Wei went on to recruit people with disabilities to join his studio, enabling them to work remotely from home. Together, they take on projects such as graphic design, social media management, event planning, and other creative services. Through experience, he learned a profound life lesson: nothing in this world lasts forever; no one can be relied upon for a lifetime, and even shadows eventually fade in the sunlight. Because of this, he cherishes every opportunity and strives to help those waiting for a chance to become self-reliant empowering them to discover their own value and worth. 

　　Jing-Wei also fulfilled his dream of writing a book. The Small Me Wants to Shake the World documents his arduous journey and serves as a bridge for the public to better understand his life and struggles. Although the physical act of writing accelerated the deterioration of his fingers due to the intensive use of hand muscles, he has no regrets. He firmly believes that, in time, effort will speak for itself, and the world will come to see its results. 

　　This is the first award Jin-Wei has ever received, making the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award in the Social Service category especially meaningful. It represents not only recognition of his efforts, but also a powerful message of encouragement. 

　　Jing-Wei continues to leave a lasting mark on society by pursuing his dreams and challenging social stereotypes - especially those directed toward people with disabilities. Through his meaningful speeches, he advocates for a more equal, inclusive, and compassionate society. 

　　With the limited time life has given him, Jing-Wei hopes to fulfill his third dream: to connect with the international community. He has learned to live in his own time zone, moving at his own pace, listening to his heart without rushing, and firmly believing that everything will happen at exactly the right time.


Translator: Jia-Yi Huang
Reviewer: Giancarlo Barbieri Rotolo