00012英语一>教程>unit2>全文>B A Priceless Lesson in Humility
A Priceless Lesson in Humility
A few years ago， I took a sightseeing trip to Washington， D.C. l saw many of our nation's treasures， and I also saw a lot of our fellow citizens on the street-unfortunate ones， like panhandlers and homeless folks.
Standing outside the Ronald Reagan， Center， I heard a voice say， “Can you help me?" When I turned around， I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended.In a natural reflex， I reached into my pocket， pulled out all of my loose change and placed it in her hand without even looking at her.I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar.
But the blind woman smiled and said， "I don't want your money.l just need help finding the post office."
In an instant,I realized what l had done. I had acted out of prejudice一I had judged another person simply for what l assumed she had to be.
I hated what I saw in myself .This incident reawakened my core belief.lt reaffirmed that l believed in humility， even though I had failed to do so for a moment.
The thing I had forgotten about myself was that I am an immigrant.I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S.at the age of 15. I started my new life with two suitcases， my brother and sister， and a strong， no-nonsense mother.Over the years， I had been a dishwasher， roofer， cashier， mechanic and_pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs， and eventually I became a network engineer. .
In my own life， I have experienced many open acts of prejudice.I remember a time， at the age of 17， when I was a busboy， I heard a father tell his little boy that， if he did not do well in school， he would end up like me.I have also witnessed similar treatment of my family and friends， so l know what it's like， and I should have known better.
But now， living in my American middle-class lifestyle， it is all too easy to forget my past, to forget who l am and where l have been， and to lose sight of where I want to be going.That blind woman on the streets of Washington， D.C.cured me of myself-induced blindness. She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open.
By the way， I helped that lady to the post office.And in writing this essay， I hope to thank her for the priceless lessons he gave me.
A few years ago， I took a sightseeing trip to Washington， D.C. l saw many of our nation's treasures， and I also saw a lot of our fellow citizens on the street-unfortunate ones， like panhandlers and homeless folks.
Standing outside the Ronald Reagan， Center， I heard a voice say， “Can you help me?" When I turned around， I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended.In a natural reflex， I reached into my pocket， pulled out all of my loose change and placed it in her hand without even looking at her.I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar.
But the blind woman smiled and said， "I don't want your money.l just need help finding the post office."
In an instant,I realized what l had done. I had acted out of prejudice一I had judged another person simply for what l assumed she had to be.
I hated what I saw in myself .This incident reawakened my core belief.lt reaffirmed that l believed in humility， even though I had failed to do so for a moment.
The thing I had forgotten about myself was that I am an immigrant.I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S.at the age of 15. I started my new life with two suitcases， my brother and sister， and a strong， no-nonsense mother.Over the years， I had been a dishwasher， roofer， cashier， mechanic and_pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs， and eventually I became a network engineer. .
In my own life， I have experienced many open acts of prejudice.I remember a time， at the age of 17， when I was a busboy， I heard a father tell his little boy that， if he did not do well in school， he would end up like me.I have also witnessed similar treatment of my family and friends， so l know what it's like， and I should have known better.
But now， living in my American middle-class lifestyle， it is all too easy to forget my past, to forget who l am and where l have been， and to lose sight of where I want to be going.That blind woman on the streets of Washington， D.C.cured me of myself-induced blindness. She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open.
By the way， I helped that lady to the post office.And in writing this essay， I hope to thank her for the priceless lessons he gave me.