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天津 楊艷鑫

旺達·史密斯一直想成為一名教師，但因為家庭責任她的夢想一再被推遲。 終于，在37歲的時候，她上了夜校。 九年后，她實現了夢想，成為一名被市長嘉獎的老師。

文章詞數359難度 建議用時★★★ 7分鐘

What's the difference between having the dream and living the dream? It's hard work and perseverance.

Wanda Smith always wanted to be a school teacher, but sometimes meeting life's demanding realities can mean a dream delayed. A mother of three, Smith, also cared for her mom. Shouldering her family responsibilities, she took jobs as bus monitor and custodian (看護人) for Brenham Independent School District in Texas.

The hours were really tough, but rather than letting her dream die, at age 37, with the support and encouragement of her husband, she added night classes to her schedule. Nine years on, she finally graduated with a bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University. She was a certified teacher at last.

Smith's story came full circle when she was hired as a first-grade teacher back at Brenham Elementary School. Unfortunately, her mom and beloved sisters didn't live to see her accomplishment, but she knows they would have been proud of her.“When I stand in front of my classroom—my classroom—I am living my dream,” Smith said.

During the pandemic, as some of her students struggled to meet the demands of distance learning,Smith stepped up to the challenge. Noting that many of the kids she teaches come from single-parent families, she began delivering packets of schoolwork to them at home. It's no wonder Smith's kids adore her. In a special surprise ceremony, they shouted their praise and held up big colorful signs declaring their devotion.

The idea was supported by Brenham's mayor, Milton Tate Jr., who—using one of Smith's own signature lines—officially declared May 4, 2021 as “Be the Best You Can Be” Wanda Smith Day. The phrase was also written on a commemorative (紀念的) schoolyard bench, and in addition, a scholarship for up-and-coming teachers at Sam Houston State University has been established in her name.

Smith's life is an example as well as an inspiration. By always striving to be the best she could be, with heart and devotion she graduated from cleaning classrooms to leading classrooms—and that certainly puts her on our honor roll.

Reading Check

Ⅰ. Complete the following mind map according to the text.

Ⅱ. Discussion

What role do you think a university education does play in a person's life?

Language Study

Ⅰ. Difficult sentence

Shouldering her family responsibilities, she took jobs as bus monitor and custodian for Brenham Independent School District in Texas. 為了承擔家庭責任，她在得克薩斯州的布倫納姆獨立學區擔任公共汽車監督員和看護人。

【點石成金】本句中shouldering her family responsibilities為現在分詞作伴隨狀語，補充說明邏輯主語she的動作狀態；shoulder與she為主動關系，故用V-ing形式，意為“承擔責任”。

Ⅱ. Useful expressions

care for 照顧

shoulder responsibilities 承擔責任

be proud of 以……為驕傲

meet the demands of 滿足……的要求

no wonder 難怪

in addition 此外

strive to do sth 努力做某事