沙漠裏，有一類植物叫仙人掌。它們或高或矮形態各異，但是所有的仙人掌都有一個共性：耐熱耐寒耐旱耐貧瘠。今天買了一盆仙人花，花匠特意交待：“毎月隻需澆一次水”。這種植物，對外界索取極少，一生自強不息，它真像一個朋友的女兒！
朋友的女兒畢業於哈佛，被一家頂級的谘詢公司錄用。她沒有直接跨入這個令無數年輕人向往的公司大門，而是推遲兩年參加工作，為的是要成為一名支教誌願者。她被分配到密蘇裏州的一個貧困地區，和幾個月前警察和黑人之間發生暴力衝突的地方隔城相望。生長在良好家境裏的她，絕沒想到在美國的土地上還有這麽貧窮落後的地方、還有這麽缺乏教育的學生。在食不裹腹，住無定處的情況下，學生學習的注意力很難集中。教書難，交心更難。她哭泣過，抑鬱過，迷茫過，失望過，但是沒有退縮過。她說：“我不能放棄我的孩子們！” 可她自己還是一個剛大學畢業的學生 、父母眼中嬌嫩的孩子。她用自己的生活津貼買來點心給學生充饑，用自己的智慧和愛心給學生補充精神食糧。
兩年的支教活動終於結束了，她帶回一個更加成熟更加堅強的自己，還帶回了一個碩士學位！這真是出人意料，兩年支教環境如此惡劣，工作如此艱苦，心情如此低迷，她居然還能利用周末和晚上，學習深造，提高自身素質，完成碩士學位。這是何等的毅力？後生可畏啊！她的所作所為讓我即感動又敬佩。這樣的年輕人還能不成為事業的棟梁？
致敬，可歌可泣的年輕人，致敬，自立自強的仙人掌！
-Santa Lucia 08/10/2015
Salute to the self-reliance of the cactus
In the desert, there is a class of plants called “cactus”. No matter they are high or low, nor their shapes, but they all have one thing in common: They are resistant to hot, cold, drought and barren. Today, I bought a pot of flora cactus, the gardener made a specific note: "Water only once a month!” This kind of plant, ask so little from outside world. It can self-sustain, and always quietly improve itself. It is really like a friend's daughter!
My friend's daughter graduated from Boston Latin School, then Harvard University. She was hired by a top consulting firm. However, she did not immediately step into the door of this company as so many young people aspired. She deferred two-years and joined “Teach America” become a volunteer.
She was assigned to a poverty-stricken area in Missouri, in the city whom can hear the gunshots from Fergus where the violence occur every day. Grew-up in a well-established family, she never thought of the land in United States, there could be a place with so many poor kids, so many students lacking of education. In the case of starving, or no fixed place to live, the students' attention were short and hard to focus. Teaching was difficult, the communication was tougher. She wept, depressed, confused, disappointed, but did not back off. She said: "I cannot give up my children!" But she, herself is just a recent college graduate, and in her parents’ eye, she is still a delicate child. She used her own subsistence to buy snacks to fill the empty stomach of her students. She used her wisdom and love to fill their soul.
Two years of “Teach America” commitment is finally over. She brought back a mature and stronger herself. To my surprise, she also brought back a Master's degree! Under such harsh teaching situation and living environment, and under a depressed psychological condition, she had been able to take advantage of weekends and evenings to study and study. She completed all the requirements and got a master's degree! At the same time that she was giving the knowledge to others, she had broaden her intellectual property scope and improved her own quality. What a perseverance?
I was moved. With my deepest admiration, I believe, this young lady can be a strong pillar in her society, as well as in her future profession.
Tribute to my heroic young lady! Salute to the self-reliance of the cactus!
