Cool Kid Truman Hughes helps kids with special needs

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Our ABC7 Cool Kid for Thursday, Oct. 2, is Truman Hughes, a freshman at Millikan High School who volunteers as a student aide, working with children who have special needs.

Truman says there's one major thing that motivates him: seeing the kids smile.

"I just love seeing them happy cause you don't see them all the time like that," Truman said.

But his future wasn't always so clear. Truman saw himself heading in the wrong direction in school and in life. But after meeting a young student named Anthony, Truman suddenly saw things in a different way.

"Not everything was just about me, maybe if I help somebody out, it'd make me feel good, and it did, a lot," Truman said.

His mentors have also seen the real Truman emerge as he spends more time with Anthony and the other children.

"He is so caring and so genuine and won't stop at nothing to help them and it's amazing," said Tricia Wilkerson, a special education teacher.

He's gotten so much from the kids he works with, and Truman wants everyone to know what he's learned.

"They are exactly like us and I think we should just treat them the way they are, how everybody treats everybody," Truman said.

He has not only made his life better, his commitment and compassion has enriched the lives of others as well.