A Learning Experience 一次学习经历

张玉凤

Over the last summer I volunteered at a summer camp for children ages 5 through 12. Every day for six weeks I rode my bike to conquer1 the hill. Once I arrived at Abbot School at 7：30， I began my seven-hour day of cleaning， entertaining and giving rides to a lot of small kids， each with different plans of action and ideas， each needing my special attention. By helping these kids and working with other counselors， I was able to develop a better sense of responsibility not just myself， but for those around me.

去年夏天，我自愿參加了一个5到12岁儿童的夏令营。在过去的六个星期里，我每天都骑自行车跨过那座小山。我7：30到达阿博特学校后，就开始了为期7个小时的清洁、娱乐和骑自行车接送大量小孩的一天。每个人都有不同的行动计划和想法，每个人都需要我的特别关注。通过帮助这些孩子，并与其他辅导员一起工作，我不仅能培养对自己，还能培养对周围人更强的责任感。

In the beginning I helped with a group of twelve-year-olds. I had a lot of fun because they were the most mature2 campers， and I could relate to them. They didnt need as much help as the younger kids. However， then the director of the camp switched me down to six-year-olds.

起初，我帮助一群12岁的孩子。我玩得很开心，因为他们是最成熟的露营者，我能与他们相处得很好。他们不像幼小的孩子那样需要那么多的帮助。然而，之后夏令营的负责人把我调去负责一群6岁的孩子。

For the previous few years I had gone to an adventure camp in the woods of Maine. There I joined in rafting， rock-climbing， and sea-kayaking. But nothing， and I mean nothing， could have prepared me for working non-stop with 15 six-year-olds. From fights over batting order to who got to drink from the water fountain first， we were in a constant state of disorder. I could now understand why parents always seemed to let out a sigh of relief as they dropped off their “little bundles3 of energy” every morning.

在过去的几年里，我参加了缅因州森林里的探险营。在那里，我参加了漂流、攀岩和海上皮划艇。但是什么都没有，我的意思是，我无法为不间断地和15个6岁的孩子一起工作做任何准备。从击球顺序的争执到谁先喝喷泉里的水，我们一直处于一种混乱的状态。我现在明白了为什么父母们每天早上放下他们的“小磨人精”时，似乎总是会松一口气。

For the first summer I was doing something that benefited someone else， and I found more satisfaction in that than any wasted breezy4 day of summers past.

第一个夏天，我做了一些有益于别人的事情。我发现这比过去任何一个虚度的、微风习习的夏天都更令人满意。

During this unique5 summer， I was able to get back so much more. I learned how much my time is really worth and how to take responsibility for myself and especially others. I learned how different each individual is and how needs vary. By learning about others， I learned more about myself and what I can do. I gained more confidence when I realized I could survive in the real world.

在这个独特的夏天，我的收获如此之多。我明白了时间是多么宝贵，学会了如何对自己，尤其是他人负责。我了解到每个人是多么不同，需求又是多么不同。通过了解别人，我更多地了解了自己，明白了我能做什么。当意识到我可以在现实世界中生存时，我获得了更多的信心。

摘自：teenink.com