亞特蘭大筆會
亞特蘭大筆會是由一群居住在亞特蘭大的中文寫作愛好者組成。筆會提倡中英文寫作，互相交流提高。歡迎有興趣的人士加入。
前言：近期我因特別忙碌，筆會這邊來得太少，也許冷落了這邊的朋友們，還請大家多多諒解！
前些時我在尋找工作時，主管部門要求我寫一篇文章，要有三頁紙長，題目不限，便隨心寫了一篇我比較有感受的兒女情長的英文文章(請諒解我們這些婆婆媽媽們腦子裏離不開這些事兒)。又有女兒舞蹈學校的老師和家長要求我把文章也發到僑界來，我便發到了隔壁大眾化的網站，沒成想引起了個別人的妒忌和蒙麵攻擊，我非常感謝筆會也上那邊網站瀏覽的友好朋友們的大力支持！特別是知足、小草、笑薇、林黛、隔壁紅柳等人以及一些沒留名的筆會朋友們的支持！此外，應林黛會長、紅柳等會友們的提議，希望筆會也發表英文文章，因此把這篇文章貼上，並謝謝你們的美意！
莫愁
An Unforgettable Day in the Waiting Hall
By Xiaomei Mo
March 15th, 2010
At first, I was hesitant when my daughter, Patricia, asked me if I could take her to the third and final dance audition for the Georgia Governor’s Honor Program (GHP). The GHP program, as I later found out, is a prestigious program that takes place in the summer semesters of high school. I had originally planned on having Patricia spend the majority of her summer preparing for the SAT. The SAT is a test that is hugely important as it, more or less, decides which college someone can attend. Thus, the SAT has a direct effect on the career and life choices that one will have access to. Now, it is worth noting? As Patricia has always been a very responsible student, she understands the importance of the SAT just as well as I do. Nevertheless, Patricia insisted that she should try out for the audition. She tried to tell me that GHP was a great program, but I was confident that the SAT was more important. Finally, she told me that at the very least I should let her attend the audition so that she can know where her dancing skill level is in relation to her peers. This piqued my curiosity quite a bit because Patricia had always been very involved in the dance scene. Ever since she was six years old, she had participated in ballet classes and recitals. She even performed as the principal dancer in such Ballets as “Nutcracker,” “Cappelia,” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Though I was sure that Patricia had the skill and charisma to be the lead role in dance performances, I had never seen her actual skill level be measured up against her peers by an independent judge. If this program was as great as she made it out to be, and if they really only accept the top talent in the state, I was indeed curious to see if my daughter could make the cut. Ultimately, I agreed to take Patricia to the audition on one condition – that if she was to be accepted, it does not necessarily mean that she would get to go.
On the morning of February 8th, Patricia and I woke up bright and early, ready to embark on our hour-long drive to Georgia Southern High School where the audition was being held. During the drive, I still maintained the mentality that this was just a test to gauge my daughter’s skill level in dance. I was pretty sure that I would still enforce our original plan of studying for the SAT’s over the summer. When we arrived at the school, we were greeted by a receptionist who issued for her candidate number and directed her to the waiting hall. I wished Patricia good luck and kissed her goodbye as she stood in line to begin the audition process. I was told that the full process would take roughly four hours so I knew I had a good deal of time to pass in the waiting hall. Since we were one of the first people there, the room was pretty empty and quiet. I found a seat nearby, picked up a magazine and started to browse the articles. Soon, the room began to fill up with parents and their children. The chatter was getting so loud that I found it hard to focus on reading. I looked around and the room was just full of energy. Everyone seemed incredibly excited to be there. I heard a girl nearby talking with her mother about how hard she has tried for the past two years to finally be able to make it to the last audition. Another girl mentioned that she was the only one from her school to make it this far. A third girl I overheard talked about how she was the only one from her county to make it to this level. All of this chatter got me really excited and even more curious about this program that my daughter has been so focused on for the past month.
As I was thinking more about the GHP program, a woman came and sat in the empty chair next to mine. She introduced herself to me as Helen. We began conversing to pass the time. She told me that she is so proud of her daughter and that I must also have an extremely talented daughter to be able to be here today. I replied that I am also very proud of my daughter and all of her accomplishments. However, I sadly reported that I had intended for today to be more of a test of my daughter’s skill level and that she may not be able to attend the actual GHP program due to the need to spend time studying for the SAT. In response, Helen, who at this time I have met for less than ten minutes, gave me the most incredulous look imaginable. I might as well have said that the world was square and that 1+1=3!
“No!” Helen screamed at me, “You are wrong to think so. Don’t you know that our daughters are the best ones in the state?” She proceeded to tell me that yes, of course the SAT is important to the future and well being of our kids but that the GHP program was a once in a lifetime opportunity that should not be passed up. Through Helen, I found out just how honorable it is to be included in the GHP program. I found out that to be involved in this program was widely regarded as an affirmation of years and years of hard work. This affirmation would be beneficial not only in terms of personal pride and satisfaction, but it would also be highly regarded by college admission officials as well. As the conversation progressed, we started to talk about various topics including the school system and the area around where we both lived. Midway through the waiting period, we had become good friends and exchanged contact information.
As the time passed she said to me, “As a friend, promise me that if your daughter makes it that you will let her attend. Yes, the SAT is important but they can make time for that. This program is an affirmation of your daughter’s goals and dreams. Don’t let it go to waste.”
At first I was flabbergasted by Helen’s forwardness. She seemed to almost demand me to let Patricia partake in the program. However, the more I thought about it, the more I decided that it was not such a bad idea after all. It is true that dancing has always been a favorite hobby of Patricia’s for as long as she can remember. In the past few years, the hobby has evolved into a passion that is clearly visible to anyone who has witnessed Patricia on stage.
The idea of following ones dream started to catch on to me and I replied to Helen, “Thank you for telling me all of this. I will seriously consider allowing my daughter to participate and will let you know what I decided to do.”
“Attention parents!” a voice interrupted us. One of the teachers in charge was preparing to make an announcement. “If anyone is interested in learning more about the GHP program please step this way to join our seminar.”
Of course, Helen and I decided to attend the seminar. We walked into a large classroom and sat down. First we watched a very informative video that showed us the application process. Afterwards, the director of the GHP program took to the podium and talked to us about how much of an honor this is for our kids to be here today. The seminar taught me many things. I learned that the GHP officials use this program to pick the top students from across twenty different fields and provide them with the absolute best environment to study and train in for six weeks. I learned about the enormous government support that is provided to the program in terms of research and funding. This was a way for the Board of Education to encourage great students to continue striving towards excellence. I learned that the processes to become accepted include three levels of acceptance. The first of which involves a nomination from the student’s school which is based on various forms of academic achievement including straight A’s, high PSAT scores and even a perfect attendance record. The second and final auditions take place on the county and state level. During each audition, the majority of students are eliminated from consideration. I remembered that Patricia did tell me that at the time of her 2nd audition at Atlanta Ballet for all of the candidates from Fulton County, only 3 people were chosen including her. Even today, at the final audition would only accept fifteen percent of the applicants. Due to the fact that this is such a rigorous process with such high acceptance criteria, the people who are accepted truly are deemed excellent and are looked favorably upon by the admissions faculty at any college.
Finally, the seminar was over and the children started to come out of their audition room. Some of the children came running out of the room with such exuberance on their faces that anyone would know they were just excited to be there. It was at this moment that I started to truly believe Helen’s words. This was indeed a very prestigious program. It was something that would make both Patricia and I proud to be a part of. I started to think back about how important dance has been to Patricia for the larger part of her life. I began to think about the dedication, time and commitment she has poured into the world of dance ever since she was a small child.
When Patricia came out I greeted her with a smile on my face and asked her how she thought she did. She responded confidently that the judges liked her and hoped that in two months time, the judges will have sent her a letter of acceptance. I hugged her and told her that I also hope that the good news will come and when it does, I whole-heartedly hope that she will attend. She looked happily surprised as she told me that I have changed. At that time it was apparent to me that this is what my daughter had wished for all along.
That day I spent in that waiting hall really changed my philosophy and outlook in regard to leading my daughter’s life. I still hold school to be important, and that will never change. However, I am no longer the rock-solid scholastic enforcer that I had been for so much of my daughter’s life. I have realized that dreams are meant to be followed, and that there comes a time when one must chose to follow one’s dream or sacrifice it for a reliable, well-trodden route through life. Ever since that day in the waiting room, I am thankful for having overheard all the loud chatter; I am thankful for my new friend Helen and I am thankful for the GHP program for giving me the opportunity to realize the potential in both Patricia and within myself. I am thankful, because I was able to support my daughter and encourage her to follow her dream.
I realized that like a small bird taking its first flight, my daughter Patricia left the nest.
首先多謝坐沙發的岑嵐如此美好的稱讚，老會長對此篇英文文章的如此肯定，對我是極大地鼓勵。此外，也多謝戈壁紅柳、 玉舟、 婉妮、笑薇、土豆沙拉和鮑鳴 朋友們的美言和鼓勵，多謝，多謝！
有女若莫愁之女，太幸福了；做母如莫愁，也太幸福了。
謝謝莫愁好文。