English class began with an unusual question. 'Who is a person of achievement in your eyes?' Cozy teacher asked. Jack named famous athletes, Lily mentioned artists, and Han Mei talked about scientists. Li Lei stayed silent, waiting to hear more. Cozy smiled and showed a photo of an elderly Chinese woman on the screen. 'Let me tell you about Tu Youyou,' she said.
英语课以一个不寻常的问题开始。“在你们眼中,谁是杰出人物?”Cozy 老师问道。Jack 列举了著名运动员,Lily 提到了艺术家,Han Mei 谈到了科学家。李雷保持沉默,想多听一些。Cozy 微笑着在屏幕上展示了一张中国老妇人的照片。“让我给你们讲讲屠呦呦的故事。”她说。
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Tu Youyou devoted decades of her life to studying traditional Chinese medicine. In the 1970s, her team discovered artemisinin, a treatment for malaria that has saved millions of lives worldwide. This remarkable breakthrough brought her the Nobel Prize in 2015. Yet she remained humble, saying that the honour belonged to her whole team, whose work was a model of dedication and patience.
After the story, the class discussed what truly makes a person great. Jack believed ambition was the key; Lily argued that dedication mattered more; Han Mei insisted that courage to face failure was essential. Cozy teacher listened carefully, then quoted a famous saying: genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. 'Every notable figure,' she said, 'has both.' Han Mei gave an example from her own life: her mother, a nurse, had worked through every Spring Festival for twenty years without a single complaint.
听完故事后,全班讨论什么才真正使人伟大。Jack 认为雄心是关键;Lily 主张奉献更重要;Han Mei 坚持面对失败的勇气必不可少。Cozy 老师认真听完,然后引用了一句名言:天才是百分之一的灵感加上百分之九十九的汗水。“每一位杰出人物,”她说,“两者兼备。”Han Mei 举了自己生活中的例子:她的母亲是护士,二十年来每个春节都在工作,从未抱怨过一次。
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Li Lei suddenly thought of his grandfather, a village doctor who had treated poor patients for over forty years without charging a fee. His grandfather never won an award or appeared in the news, but everyone in the village respected him deeply. Li Lei realized that great people are not only famous ones; ordinary people who contribute quietly to others are equally worthy of admiration.
Inspired by this thought, Li Lei raised his hand and shared his grandfather's story with the class. The room fell silent, then burst into applause. Cozy teacher nodded with approval. 'Achievement,' she said, 'is not measured by fame or glory, but by the influence we leave on others.' The class decided to write biographies of people of achievement in their own families. Li Lei felt his heart beating fast as he finished, and he knew this lesson would stay with him for a long time.
That evening, Li Lei wrote in his journal: 'Greatness does not require a stage; it requires a heart that serves.' He thought about his own ambition and how he could influence others for the better. The lesson had changed his view of success, and he felt a new fire inside him, ready to pursue his dreams with both courage and humility.