常聽到有人說，現代的青少年很自我中心、吃不了苦，也不懂得感恩。這些評價，某些程度上有一定的準確性；然而，構成這個現象的原因之一，是否是作父母的根本沒有給他們一個學習的平台呢？今年暑假，十三位來自不同州的高中生，選擇放下繁忙的功課，跳出舒適的生活，跑出遍遠的地區，去接觸、服侍一些弱勢的群體，他們得到了什麼呢？且聽其中幾位學生娓娓道來：
Olivia: Project Ascent* has definitely been the most influential and life changing experience I have ever had. From Bethany Home for challenged children, I learned the purity of raw emotions. There, I felt true joy just be with the kids as I watched them smile, heard them laugh and sing, or held their hands. I saw that although our lives are different, we still have many similarities and at the end of the day, we are all still human. There is no real reason for the separation of these wonderful beings that are just as talented as we are. They possess many strengths that I do not have and the idea that they are taken away from “regular” life really disappoints me.
對我來說，「展翅計劃」* 實在是個最具影響、並改變生命的一個經歷。在伯大尼智障兒童之家，我學到了什麼是純潔的真摯感情。在那裡，當我和小孩子在一起，看著他們的微笑，握著他們的手，聴到他們的歌聲、笑聲，我找到真正的喜樂。雖然我們的生活有差異，然而，我們還是有很多相同之處，終歸我們都是人。我們根本沒有理由把這些跟我們同樣有天份、甚至擁有許多我沒有的長處的人，硬硬的給分開，從「正常」的生活中抽出來，這樣的思維，實在叫我失望。
Elkan Wong: The manual labor: milking goats, cutting grasses, was agonizing, yet, after seeing all the kids doing a better job of the same manual work I was doing, I saw how privileged I was to be who I am today, being able to walk without problem, being in extremely good health, and having a caring family. I also saw how unfit I was too. The people I previously thought who was the least qualified to teach me things ended up teaching me so much about myself, my personality, and my weaknesses. I knew I had to be more grateful and to be less of a complainer of my “conditions”.
擠羊奶、剪草等勞動工作對我來說，是非常痛苦的，然而，當我看到這智障孩子比我做得更好時，我才曉得自己是多麼的幸運，我可以走路、非常健康，並且擁有一個對我關懷備至的家庭。這些我以為不可能教導我什麼的人，最终卻使我看到自己的本相、自己的性格，和自己的軟弱。我知道我需要學習為自己的「境況」多一點的感恩、少一點的埋怨。
Olivia: At Xi’An, I taught the destitute kids English, but they taught me even more than I taught them. They showed me that being happy is not about what you have. It is about building real human connections that allow you to express who you are comfortably. When there are no fears, no doubts, and acceptance is the common feeling, the dynamic between both me and the kids brings out liveliness and joy. This is the true measurement of wealth; pure happiness that is obtained through human connection. Not what you have, nor where you come from.
在西安，我教那些貧困的孩子英語，然而，他們教我的遠遠超過我教他們的。他們讓我看見，快樂並不在於你擁有什麼，而在於建立一份真誠的人際關係，一份讓你可以從容地表達自己的關係。在沒有害怕、沒有疑慮、只有接納的情況下，我和這些小孩之間的互動，帶出了喜樂和生命。這才是真正的財富。單純的快樂，是透過人與人之間的連繫而來的；不在乎你擁有多少；你從那裡來。
Lilian: We asked the class to brainstorm things that they were thankful for and the first thing many of them said were their teachers. This was very touching to us and I realized how many of my friends here in the U.S. complain about school and say they hate it, but we are actually so privileged to have the opportunity to learn.
我們要孩子們想想，最叫他們感謝的是什麼。讓我們深受感動的是，大部份同學的首選是自己的老師。很多我在美國的朋友對學校諸多不滿，甚至厭惡，卻不曉得，能夠有學習的機會，事實上是我們的榮幸！
註：展翅計劃為角聲家庭中心每年為高中生而設的跨文化領袖課程，旨在幫助土生土長的華裔青少年成為具備國際視野、領袖才能、勇於承擔責任、樂於服務社群的精英。
◎ Elkan Wong/ Lilian/Olivia ◎ 翻譯：秦黃業玲