2005/01（本試）
During my college days, I spent my summers as an assistant at a camp for junior high school students. It was work I looked forward to every year because it was a pleasure. Of my camp memories, there is one summer that stands out from the rest.
It was the first day of camp. About an hour after everyone had arrived, I noticed a small boy sitting alone under a tree. He was thin, pale and obviously uneasy. Only fifty feet away, all the other campers were playing, joking and enjoying getting to know each other, but he seemed to want to be anywhere other than where he was. He had a lost look, a look of deep loneliness. To be honest, I felt uncomfortable approaching him, but our senior staff members had instructed us to watch for campers who might feel left out, campers just like this boy. I knew it was my responsibility to talk with him even though I felt it would not be easy.
I walked up to him and said, “Hi, my name is Kevin, and I’m one of the assistants.” In a small, shaky voice he shyly answered, “Hi, I’m Tommy.”
“Welcome to camp, Tommy. How’s it going?”
“Okay, 1 guess,” he said quietly, not looking at me.
“Do you want to join the activities and meet some new kids, or do you want to just sit here under this tree?” I asked with a smile. He replied unwillingly, “I’m fine here. This camp is not really my thing.” It was clear that camp life was new to him, and I somehow knew it would not be right to push him to join the other campers. Instead, I sat down and talked with him for a while, and then took him to his cabin. I hoped he would make some friends there.
After lunch the next day, I led the two hundred campers in songs. I looked over the enthusiastic crowd and noticed Tommy, sitting alone, staring at the floor. I realized he was going to require some very special care. That night at our staff meeting, I told everyone about him, and asked them to pay attention to him and spend time with him whenever possible. Tommy became our special project. We always helped him participate’ in the camp activities, and slowly he opened up.
Time passed quickly, and Tommy became more active every day. In no time camp was over. As the campers celebrated at a farewell party, I suddenly saw what would be one of the most vivid memories of my life. The boy who had once sat alone under the tree was now dancing. Towards the end of the party, he was dancing as if he owned the dance floor, and talking with people he had not even been able to look at a few weeks earlier. The changes in Tommy were dramatic. All of the camp staff saw him as the camp’s greatest success.
About five years later, I got a letter from Tommy. I had not seen him since the night he was all over the dance floor, so it was a complete surprise to get a letter from him. And what the letter said was even more of a surprise.
In the letter, Tommy said. “I appreciate your help very much. On the first day of camp, you came up to me while I was sitting alone. After that, you always gave me special attention and encouraged me to join activities when I hesitated. As a result, I gradually got to know the other campers, and I even became ‘the king of the dance floor’ on the last night. Because of your help that summer, my life changed. I gained so much confidence that I went back to school as a new person. My grades improved. I became very active and made new friends. Today, I got a letter that said I have been given a scholarship for college next year. I am proud to have gotten it, but I know that if you had not helped me, I would not have. I just wanted to thank you for helping me become a different person.”
I have kept that letter; it is special to me. I read it sometimes to remind myself that we never know how much our actions may affect someone.
- What happened on the first day of camp?
① Tommy felt a responsibility to talk with the lonely boy.
② Tommy left the camp to return to his house.
③ Tommy tried to get to know other campers.
④ Tommy did not feel at all comfortable. - What did Kevin do to help Tommy?
① He taught him how to become a good dancer.
② He decided to stay with him in the same cabin.
③ He suggested that Tommy stay under the tree.
④ He asked the assistants to take care of him. - What happened on the Last night of camp?
① Kevin felt sorry about Tommy’s big change.
② Tommy demonstrated his new confidence.
③ Tommy wanted some friends to talk with.
④ Kevin got a letter from Tommy. - How did the camp affect Tommy?
① He changed into a new person.
② He became a little more lonely and shy.
③ He lost the confidence to make friend&
④ He was happy with his high school scholarship. - What did Kevin gain from his experience with Tommy?
① He learned he was able to make a real difference in someone’s life.
② He realized that he really enjoyed his work as a camp assistant.
③ He realized he should force campers to participate in activities.
④ He learned that he did not know how to be a helpful camp assistant.
