Breakthrough!

Something exciting happened in one of my 8th grade classes today. Wanna know?

We were talking about overcoming obstacles in life, and the assignment was for them to make an inspirational poster to have at home with one of the quotes that my partner and I provided. Now, a lot of the time when you talk with students here in Moldova and use people as examples it is hit and miss whether or not they'll know the person you're talking about. For example, when I did a lesson on success I talked about Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, and Barrack Obama. The students had no idea who the first two were.
Today I used quotes from several people, among them being Thomas Edison. The students in the first 8th grade class again had no idea who he was. When I asked the second 8th grade class during the next period the boy who never talks because he is basically blind, has no money for an eye doctor, and who does not receive any type of special help as a student with this situation would in the USA, sits up straight in his seat and says clearly and loudly "Thomas Edison was the inventor who created the light bulb!"

Y'all, you could have knocked me over with a feather. I was shocked. This kid never talks. He sits with his face about two centimeters away from his notebook during every lesson and takes notes if he has a pen with him. I have never heard him say a word before. Before today I thought he had some sort of a mental disability, but after class I asked my partner.

New goal: find some way to help this kid in his studies, because he is obviously intelligent. He just needs support of some kind.