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天津 杨艳鑫

旺达·史密斯一直想成为一名教师，但因为家庭责任她的梦想一再被推迟。 终于，在37岁的时候，她上了夜校。 九年后，她实现了梦想，成为一名被市长嘉奖的老师。

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What's the difference between having the dream and living the dream? It's hard work and perseverance.

Wanda Smith always wanted to be a school teacher, but sometimes meeting life's demanding realities can mean a dream delayed. A mother of three, Smith, also cared for her mom. Shouldering her family responsibilities, she took jobs as bus monitor and custodian (看护人) for Brenham Independent School District in Texas.

The hours were really tough, but rather than letting her dream die, at age 37, with the support and encouragement of her husband, she added night classes to her schedule. Nine years on, she finally graduated with a bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University. She was a certified teacher at last.

Smith's story came full circle when she was hired as a first-grade teacher back at Brenham Elementary School. Unfortunately, her mom and beloved sisters didn't live to see her accomplishment, but she knows they would have been proud of her.“When I stand in front of my classroom—my classroom—I am living my dream,” Smith said.

During the pandemic, as some of her students struggled to meet the demands of distance learning,Smith stepped up to the challenge. Noting that many of the kids she teaches come from single-parent families, she began delivering packets of schoolwork to them at home. It's no wonder Smith's kids adore her. In a special surprise ceremony, they shouted their praise and held up big colorful signs declaring their devotion.

The idea was supported by Brenham's mayor, Milton Tate Jr., who—using one of Smith's own signature lines—officially declared May 4, 2021 as “Be the Best You Can Be” Wanda Smith Day. The phrase was also written on a commemorative (纪念的) schoolyard bench, and in addition, a scholarship for up-and-coming teachers at Sam Houston State University has been established in her name.

Smith's life is an example as well as an inspiration. By always striving to be the best she could be, with heart and devotion she graduated from cleaning classrooms to leading classrooms—and that certainly puts her on our honor roll.

Reading Check

Ⅰ. Complete the following mind map according to the text.

Ⅱ. Discussion

What role do you think a university education does play in a person's life?

Language Study

Ⅰ. Difficult sentence

Shouldering her family responsibilities, she took jobs as bus monitor and custodian for Brenham Independent School District in Texas. 为了承担家庭责任，她在得克萨斯州的布伦纳姆独立学区担任公共汽车监督员和看护人。

【点石成金】本句中shouldering her family responsibilities为现在分词作伴随状语，补充说明逻辑主语she的动作状态；shoulder与she为主动关系，故用V-ing形式，意为“承担责任”。

Ⅱ. Useful expressions

care for 照顾

shoulder responsibilities 承担责任

be proud of 以……为骄傲

meet the demands of 满足……的要求

no wonder 难怪

in addition 此外

strive to do sth 努力做某事