"Automatic negative sentiment that people get when they hear about mental or physical disabled people just really got me to want to raise awareness," said Julie.
As much as Julie gives to her students, she feels she gets much more in return.
"They've taught me so many things, like life basically. They taught me to be thankful and be happy for the simplest things," she said.
Julie also instructs at-risk kids through the Police Activities League's youth program. She says she can relate to the challenges of some of her students because she was raised by a single mom. Faced with both good and bad choices, Julie went in a positive direction.
"[I wanted] to pursue education and do better and not go the wrong route. So because I've got so much guidance, I wish to put some guidance on others, if I could do that, have an influence," she said.
Bringing friendship and guidance to the next generation makes Julie Kim our Cool Kid.
