“Hi, Echo. Haven’t talked with you for months. How are you doing?”

A chat window popped out. It was Jeffrey, one of the most celebrated teachers in New Oriental School, co-teaching scores of classes with me, and surely one of my dear friends.

It was ten months ago when we last met. Ever since then, he’s been on a training rotation from one place to another. This time, his words came from Hong Kong.

“How’s the life of banking?” I asked.

“Banker is a dirty job…haha…” He witted back.

I knew he was half-kidding. Working with a top foreign bank could mean lots of pressure and highly demanding hours, but I knew Jeffrey would hang in there, like his motto: “Winners never quit!”

Among the people I know, Jeffrey is with the strongest will power and the greatest perseverance. When we first met, he had already been introduced as an exceptional teacher in NOS. Experienced, erudite and gentlemanlike, he was extremely popular with his students. With what he already had, he could easily lead, what we perceived, a successful life. However, he surprised all of us with his decision of moving towards banking industry -- a new world that he, as a master in English, barely knew anything.

I still remember the time he took pains to pick up maths that he said looked so alien to him. I still remember he asking me to bring him finance books, each thick as a brick. (Jeff, you still owe me a dinner for…maths and books…you know what I’m talking about J )

Hard work always pays off. Though with an unfavorable education background, he beat countless competitors and finally received the offer from a top foreign bank.

While we were celebrating his success, Jeffrey was so calmly engaged in another round of independent learning. “There is so much to learn. I still feel short of finance knowledge. Well, need to refuel myself anyway, ” said Jeffrey, “I might not be the smartest, but I could be the most diligent.”

Since then, Jeffrey bent his head over books and papers. During his training days in Suzhou, he called and said: “I have quite lot of leisure time as a trainee. Can you believe I could leave the office by 5:30 everyday? I need to ask for more work and learning opportunities. Say, do you have any new books you think good for me to read?”

This is Jeffrey, who I firmly believe would survive any challenge and pressure coming his way.

“No seeking of ease and comfort before my reaching thirty years old,” That’s what Jeffrey said to me, about his life path, “But when I reach fifty, I will still go back to teach.”

“Well, life after 50s should be like a peaceful lake. And most importantly, I would have so much to share with others with 30 years of valuable experience.” He added.

It was a great delight talking with Jeffrey. When I am kind of lost, it was those talks with the people of drives and determination that keep me going. It is my hope that -- after reading this post, you my readers will also gain further insights into choosing your life path.

Almost every fresh graduate is filled with passion, driven to make some achievements and to feel like “I’m somebody”. But in most cases, routine office hours and the feeling of being underrated in a big environment can so easily wear off your passion and desire.

“This is who I am. I am not that good.” During the moments of deep personal doubt, the idea of a safe and less-demanding job is always appealing.

But for some people, an easy and secured life is not what they are looking for. They keep pushing forward, day by day, to reach a better self. Someday, when they find there is little room for further self-improvement, they are never afraid of a challenging change to make constant progress.

That’s why – among some people, the differences are subtle at beginning, and then they become so glaringly apparent.

As we grow older and gain different experiences, our mind-sets might change. But deep inside our heart, let’s us always remember what is our life-long pursuit, and let’s hold fast to it.

“Live and learn” might be the hardest work out there. That’s why so few of us are engaged in it. “Give and receive” might ask for too much in the first place. That’s why so few of us are wiling to have a try. But there is a difference between being rich and being wealthy. Wealth is measured in many immaterial ways, not just in money. It takes a dream, a lot of determination and self-discipline to become a person wealthy in dollars, knowledge, and heart.

To dear Jeffrey, I wish you every success in your career. And I certainly look forward to listening to your lecture when you are “of your advanced age” but “mega-rich”, both materially and mentally J . Take care, my friend. I know you can keep the delicate balance between life and work. We are all proud of you.

posted on 2007-07-28 01:14 江晓弘 阅读(11759) 评论(59)  编辑  收藏 所属分类: 讲台之上 网摘收藏