做自己最好

by Myra Sanderman

翻译：德孟

做自己最好

by Myra Sanderman

翻译：德孟

Track 9

与其摇摇晃晃地站在巨人的肩膀上，不如挺直自己的腰杆站在坚实的大地上。

The classroom was packed with those of us who wanted to work on the school newspaper. I hadn't written much before. Still， working on the paper sounded like fun.

We had to turn in a1）sample of our writing. I had written a piece about the joys of summer.

I showed the article to my father， a2）brilliant lawyer and poet. He rewrote the whole piece—not with me，for I never said a thing to stop him—but for me. No surprise—his3）version was wonderful. It was so much better than my original piece， that against my better judgment， I turned in his version instead of mine.

“Welcome to the4）Dundee School News，” my teacher said to me. “Based on that5）terrifc article you wrote about summer， I'm making you Second Page Editor.”

My lunch nearly leaped out of my stomach. Now I was expected to write a personal opinion6）column every week for the second page. I was no more7）equipped to write at that level than I was to be a rock star. I couldn't8）confess the truth to the teacher，and I couldn't ask my father to write a weekly column for me.

That semester working on the paper was nothing but painful. My teacher was clearly disappointed.

“Can't you write something more like that first piece you wrote？” he said.

I couldn't， because at that age， I was no match for a writer of my father's ability. Week after week，I struggled with my writing. My columns never measured up to the one that got me the job.

Eventually， to my total9）humiliation， I was replaced as the Second Page Editor. I railed against my father for taking over the10）assignment， instead of simply trying to help. But in my heart I knew the fault was mine for allowing him to do it. I wasn't sure I'd ever write again.

I did go on to become an11）advertising copywriter in a national12）agency， and eventually found my true creative love—writing for children. Looking back， I realize that the pain and humiliation of that school experience had a positive side. It taught me to trust myself and not try to be anyone else.

Every day， I struggle to use my own words， fnd my own style， be my own best self. And you know what？ It feels great.

词组小分析

be packed with 被……挤满

against one's better judgment 明知不可取地，违心地leap out 跃出

be no match for 不是……的对手，比不上

struggle with 与……作斗争，努力地对付

measure up to 符合，达到，够得上

rail against 责备，抱怨

1） sample ［΄sαːmpl］ n. 范例，样本，代表

2） brilliant ［΄brIlIənt］ adj. 才华横溢的

3） version ［΄vзːʃən］ n. 版本，改写本

4） Dundee ［dʌn΄diː］ n.（英国苏格兰东部港市）邓迪

5） terrifc ［tə΄rIfIk］ adj. 极好的，了不起的

6） column ［΄kɒləm］ n.（报纸、杂志的）专栏

7） equip ［I΄kwIp］ v.（智力、体力上）使有准备，使有资格

8） confess ［kən΄fes］ v. 坦白，供认

9） humiliation ［hjuːˌmIlI΄eIʃən］ n. 羞辱，丢脸

10） assignment ［ə΄saInmənt］ n. 任务

11） advertising copywriter 广告文案撰稿人

12） agency ［΄eIdʒənsI］ n. 代理公司，经销处

参考译文

教室里挤满了我们这些想到校报任职的同学。我之前并没有多少写作经验。不过，在报社工作听起来还是很有趣的。我们要上交一篇自己的代表习作。我写的是一篇关于夏季乐趣的文章。

我爸是个出色的律师兼诗人，我把这篇文章给他看了。他将整篇文章重写了，并不是和我一同写的，而是为我写的—因为我完全没有出言阻拦他。不出所料，他写的版本棒极了，比我的原作好太多了，以致于我明知不可以这样，也还是将我爸的文章当作我自己的交了上去。

“欢迎加入《邓迪校报》，”老师对我说。“基于你写的那篇关于夏天的优秀文章，我任命你为第二版面编辑。”

中午吃的饭几乎从我的胃里腾跃而出。这下好了，我必须每周给第二版面写一篇展示个人观点的专栏文章。我写不出那种水平的文章，正如我当不了摇滚明星一样。我不能跟老师坦白真相，也不能让我爸每周给我写一篇专栏文章。

为校报工作的那个学期只觉得痛苦不堪。老师显然很失望。

“你就不能再写出像你的处女作那样的文章来吗？”他说道。

我做不到，因为在那个年纪，作为一名写手我根本就不是我爸的对手。一周又一周，我艰难地为校报写文章。我再没写出过一篇专栏文章能够比得上那篇为我赢得这份工作的文章。

最终，别人取代了我第二版面编辑的位置，这对我来说是奇耻大辱。我责怪我爸接过了那项写作任务，而不是仅仅试着帮我一把。但我心中明白，这是我自己的错，是我任由他这么做的。我不确定自己是否还会继续写作。

后来我还是坚持下去了，成为了一家全国广告代理公司的文案撰稿人，并最终发掘出了自己真正的创作爱好—为儿童写作。回顾往事，我意识到在学校的那段痛苦而羞耻的经历也有其积极影响。那件事教会了我要相信自己，不要试图去装成别人的样子。

每天我都在努力用自己的语言写作，摸索我自己的写作风格，做最好的自己。你知道吗？这样做感觉好极了。

No One's Words but My Own