Why are we special?

So today's topic discussed the idea that we are all special in our difference from animals because of our ability to make our own choices, and that somehow this is our greatest advantage. I do see the advantage in it, the ability to go against our own nature creates progress, it creates a diversity in interests  and simply stops us from being bord. In refrense to what Pedro said earlier about other animals perhaps being considered superior to us , I think that depends on how you define superior. I believe that the human race, in its growth and progress, is far superior to other animals because of that progress, but again it depends on how you define it.