小绿豆突然想起来很久之前老师给过的一篇英语短文

送给那些和小绿豆一样马上走向更广阔天地的学子~~~

I have a friend namedMonty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his houseto put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

　The last time Iwas there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use myhouse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of anitinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to racetrack, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’shigh school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he wasasked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.”

　“That night hewrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch.He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and thetrack. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house thatwould sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.”

　“He put a greatdeal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to histeacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was alarge red F with a note that read, ‘See me after class.’”

　“The boy withthe dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, ‘Why did I receive anF?’”

　“The teachersaid, ‘This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have nomoney. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horseranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay forthe original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees.There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, ‘If you willrewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’”

　“The boy wenthome and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do.His father said, ‘Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this.However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’”

　“Finally, aftersitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changesat all. He stated, ‘You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.’”

　Monty thenturned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you aresitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch.I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The bestpart of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, hesaid, ‘Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I wassomething of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams.Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.’”

　Don’t let anyonesteal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what