永不言弃

杨梦迪等

Icannot remember a point in my life when I desired anything other than becoming a teacher. As a child， I played school with my little cousins and friends just so I could practice for my future career. But what I didnt realize as a child was how expensive my dream was. I came from a middle class family， and it seemed so out of reach， but I wasnt willing to settle for anything less.

In the beginning of my senior year in high school， I began applying to colleges， but in my heart I had already made my decision. The University of Connecticut was the one. But a huge hurdle stood between me and my dream—lack of financial resources.

At first， I was ready to give up. I mean， who was going to give me， the average high-school girl， that kind of money？ I wasnt the smartest person in my class， not even close； but my heart was in the right place， and I was determined. I knew that scholarships were only given to the really smart kids， or so I thought. I applied for every scholarship I could get my hands on. What did I have to lose？ And then my guidance counselor told me about the financial aid system. I applied， but I didnt think I would qualify for that either.

After the holidays， my friends started receiving their acceptance letters from colleges， and I eagerly anticipated mine. Finally， a letter arrived from the University of Connecticut. Feelings of fear and joy overwhelmed me， but I was ready. I opened the envelope with trembling hands as tears engulfed my eyes. I had done it！ I had been accepted. I felt both extremely excited and afraid. I had worked so hard to get accepted； what if I was denied admission because of my financial status？

I had been working a full-time job， but that was barely enough to pay for tuition. My parents couldnt afford that kind of money， and I wasnt going to pretend that they could. I was the first person in my family， who would attend a university， and I knew how proud my parents were； but it was impossible for them to finance my education. However， my parents are incredible people， and they taught me never to give up on my dreams， regardless of the obstacles that I encounter， and never to lose sight of what I truly want out of life. My parents were right， and I continued to believe in both myself and my dreams.

Months went by before I heard anything from the financial aid office. I assumed that I didnt qualify for aid， but I wasnt ready to lose hope yet. At last， a letter arrived. I opened it eagerly， but it was a false alarm. The letter requested more information in order to process my application.endprint

This happened over and over， and my hopes kept getting shot down. Finally， a bulky envelope arrived. I knew this was the one that would determine whether or not I could attend college. I opened the envelope and could hardly understand what any of the documents inside meant.

The following day， I brought the documents to school and asked my guidance counselor to take a look at them. He looked up at me with a huge smile on his face and told me that not only was financial aid going to help me out with my expenses， but I had also won two of the scholarships I had applied for！ I was in shock at first， and then I cried. I had actually made my dream come true.

I am now a junior at the University of Connecticut， pursuing a degree in English. My dream will become a reality. I will be a teacher.

I live by this quote： “Reach for the sky because if you should happen to miss， you will still be among the stars.”

我不记得是什么时候开始，我一心渴望成为老师。当我是个孩子时，我和我的小堂弟以及小伙伴玩上学的游戏，好为我将来的事业作准备。但是，作为一个孩子，我没有意识到的是，这个梦想有多么昂贵。我来自一个中产阶级家庭，我的梦想看起来是那样遥不可及，但我不愿意妥协。

刚开始上高三的时候，我开始申请大学，但在我心里我已经作了决定。美国康涅狄格大学就是我的选择。但是，一个巨大的障碍横在我和我的梦想之间——资金不足。

一开始，我都准备放弃了。我的意思是，谁会给像我这样资质一般的高中女孩那么大一笔学费？我不是班级里最聪明的学生，甚至和最聪明还差得远。但是我的心安得其所，并且我很坚定。我知道奖学金只给真正聪明的孩子，至少我是这么认为的。我申请了所有我能申请的奖学金。尝试一下又会有什么损失呢？之后我的辅导员向我介绍了财政援助体系。我申请了，但我也认为我没有资格申请到。

假期结束后，我的朋友们陆续收到大学录取通知书，我也在热切期盼我的。终于，一封来自康涅狄格大学的信寄到了。害怕和快乐的感觉同时笼罩着我，但是我已经作好了准备。我颤抖着打开信封，泪水盈满双眼。我做到了！我被录取了。我兴奋之至却也感到深深的恐惧。我这么努力才被录取，如果因为我的财政状况无法入学，那可怎么办？

我一直在做一个全职的工作，但也只是勉强够支付学费。我的父母无法承担这样一笔钱，我也不能假装他们能负担。我将是我们家第一个去上大学的人，我知道我的父母为此感到十分骄傲，但我父母不可能资助我完成学业。然而，我的父母是了不起的人。他们教我永远不要放弃我自己的梦想，不管遇到什么样的困难，不要忽视我真正想要从生活中得到的。我的父母是对的，而且我一直都相信我自己和我的梦想。

过了几个月，我没有得到任何来自财政援助办公室的消息。我想我没有资格获得援助，但我尚未失去希望。最后，来了一封信。我急忙打开它，却发现是空欢喜一场。信中要求我提供更多的信息以便处理我的申请。

这样的情况又发生了好几次，同时我也慢慢失去了希望。最终，一个厚重的信封寄来了。我知道这封信将决定我到底能不能上大学。我打开了信封，几乎不能理解里面那些文件的意思。

第二天，我带着那些文件去学校让我的辅导员看一下。他抬起头来看着我，脸上挂着灿烂的笑容。他告诉我不仅财政援助会帮助我解决我的生活开销，而且我还获得了我申请的两个奖学金项目。我一下子震惊了，然后放声大哭。实际上，我已经实现了我的梦想。

我现在已是美国康涅狄格大学的一名大三的学生，正在攻读一个英语的学位。我的梦想将变成现实。我会成为一名老师。

我一直以这句话作为我的座右铭：“伸手触摸天空吧，因为即使你碰巧错过了，你仍在群星之中。”endprint