Others can show you the way, but you must walk it yourself.
– Elisabeth Goudge
读书好，好读书，读好书，书读好，做个读书人，以书为友，开卷有益，这些哲理不会被岁月的屐痕所泯灭，反而随着人们读书实践的深化和读书经验的积累，迸发出更为耀眼的火花。学业的繁重，思乡的痛苦，自不待言。然而，人生的麦田很大也很宽，着意耕耘，自有收获。I’m an education fanatic, was rather upset at losing my beautiful golden university libraries after graduation, but 所谓好汉不提当年勇。 There’s still a lot to learn – from Vietnamese to Chinese calligraphy, swimming the butterfly and investment valuation.
Here’s a primer on basic skills and habits that I’ve picked up along the way, and I’ll have to work on the material for Chinese language learning, investing, sports such as pilates and other things on which I spend my time.
An education was a bit like a communicable sexual disease. It made you unsuitable for a lot of jobs and then you had the urge to pass it on.
– Terry Pratchett
I was trained in literature and philosophy at Brown and Oxford, but I’ve been tempted to go into finance because of the money, which I want to pay off my scholarship bond and to save up for graduate school. I think academia’s my calling, though – because of education and all the wonderful implications of that word, because it is where I want to put all senses of identity together, a home where I can search for integrity, because of the beautiful teachers I have, because I’m a nerd at heart – and I take heart from words such as these to keep ploughing on.
I love my universities very much. Brown, for its pioneering spirit and the open curriculum approach to education that places the burden of choice, freedom, intellectual curiosity and independent motivation on the student. Ruth Simmons is one of my heroes. Oxford, for the people, the tutorial system, for the beautiful golden city and the Bodley.
Once you’ve had the benefit of having good teachers and a great education there’s the need to pass it on. Because you’re grateful for what you’ve received, and the best way to repay that debt and be a credit to your teachers is to help others along like how you’ve been helped.