沙漠里，有一类植物叫仙人掌。它们或高或矮形态各异，但是所有的仙人掌都有一个共性：耐热耐寒耐旱耐贫瘠。今天买了一盆仙人花，花匠特意交待：“毎月只需浇一次水”。这种植物，对外界索取极少，一生自强不息，它真像一个朋友的女儿！
朋友的女儿毕业于哈佛，被一家顶级的咨询公司录用。她没有直接跨入这个令无数年轻人向往的公司大门，而是推迟两年参加工作，为的是要成为一名支教志愿者。她被分配到密苏里州的一个贫困地区，和几个月前警察和黑人之间发生暴力冲突的地方隔城相望。生长在良好家境里的她，绝没想到在美国的土地上还有这么贫穷落后的地方、还有这么缺乏教育的学生。在食不裹腹，住无定处的情况下，学生学习的注意力很难集中。教书难，交心更难。她哭泣过，抑郁过，迷茫过，失望过，但是没有退缩过。她说：“我不能放弃我的孩子们！” 可她自己还是一个刚大学毕业的学生 、父母眼中娇嫩的孩子。她用自己的生活津贴买来点心给学生充饥，用自己的智慧和爱心给学生补充精神食粮。
两年的支教活动终于结束了，她带回一个更加成熟更加坚强的自己，还带回了一个硕士学位！这真是出人意料，两年支教环境如此恶劣，工作如此艰苦，心情如此低迷，她居然还能利用周末和晚上，学习深造，提高自身素质，完成硕士学位。这是何等的毅力？后生可畏啊！她的所作所为让我即感动又敬佩。这样的年轻人还能不成为事业的栋梁？
致敬，可歌可泣的年轻人，致敬，自立自强的仙人掌！
-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!
