恩师Collins夫人不仅教会了我英语，更重要的是给了我面对一切困难的勇气。
I'dbeenlookingforwardtoschool,butthefirstdaywasacompleteshock.IcamehomeandtoldmymumI'dlearnedmyfirstEnglishword:stupid.Itwasthenicknameaboyhadgivenme.Ineverywaypossible,Iwassetapartfrommyclassmates.IwastheonlyHispanicstudent.Icouldn'tcommunicateinEnglish.
Onepersonmadethatyearbearableforme:myteacher,Mrs.Collins.ShewasayoungAfricanAmerican,soIthinksheunderstoodhowIfeltastheonlynonwhitekid.She'dhelpedmealot.
Still,theteasingcontinued.Theboywhocalledmestupidwasalwayslaughingatmeformyaccent.Hewasagoodstudentandtheholderofourclass'readingaward.Itwasanhonorgiventoastudent,basedonexcellenceinschoolwork,attendanceandhomework.Iwantedthataward,too.
AsMrs.Collinscheeredmeon,Igainedconfidence.Bymidyear,IwaswellonmywaytospeakingEnglishfluentlyandmyreadingskillsweregreatlyimproved.Withtheawardceremonycomingup,IworkedashardasIcould.Thedayfinallycame,andIwassonervous.
WhenMrs.Collinsannouncedmeasthewinner,itwasmyproudestmoment.Itookthereadingawardrightoutofthatboy'shands.Ifeltsohappyformyself.
Theboy'smothercomplainedthattheonlyHispanicintheclass,thegirlwhohadjustlearnedEnglish,hadtakentheprizefromherson.Butinherstrong,gentleway,Mrs.Collinsstoodherground.Itwasanexcellentlessoninfairnessandnevergivingup.
Fromthenon,Iworkedevenharderinschool,earningA's.AsIbeganenjoyingsuccessasasinger,ImentionedMrs.CollinsinmanyinterviewswhenIwasaskedaboutpeoplewhohadinspiredme.
Fromwww.motivateus.com