优秀作品Go for Your Dreams

Posted 2021-05-02 上海学生英文报

BY 曾灵淞 宜川中学

How time flies! A six-day volunteer trip to Thailand is already over. Frankly speaking, I was nervous on my first day at Elephants World. Never had I been so close to an elephant. But I tried to control my nerves and took a close look at them. They were so huge but cute as well. What’s worth mentioning is that they have feelings that are similar to humans’. 

I stood in front of an elephant named Malee and gave her the food we had prepared for her. I touched her trunk — rough; I looked into her eyes — beautiful. It seemed that her eyes were expressing something that I think was gratitude.

I noticed an interesting phenomenon: the volunteers at Elephants World were from all walks of life, which means they used to take up different jobs and live comfortable lives in metropolises. But they chose to give up their jobs and work as volunteers instead. 

“What on earth encouraged you to quit your city life and come here?” I couldn’t help asking the question again and again when I was chatting with the volunteers from all over the world. 

“Because I love nature and animals.” This was the most universal answer that I received. Indeed, life at Elephants World is so attractive, compelling and natural for those from busy and noisy cities.

What surprised me most was that there were two female mahouts (象夫) at Elephants World. One was from Canada and the other was from Japan.

They abandoned their lives in the city and came to Elephants World. Tori (the Canadian) told me that she took a global tour after finishing a three-month internship at a law firm. She found Thailand so attractive that she decided to stay and work as a mahout. I couldn’t imagine how a girl who was supposed to be an outstanding lawyer could have abandoned her career. There must have been something that supported her all the way. And yes, the answer was her deep love for nature. 

That was admirable. There is no doubt that everyone is in pursuit of something that she/he likes. However, due to the pressures of life, many people are obliged to stop pursuing their dreams and live an ordinary life. 

Not everyone dares to sacrifice everything for their dreams or goals in life. But Tori did and so did many other volunteers. Maybe I am not as brave as Tori; I may not become a mahout, but I will try as hard as Tori did to go for my dreams. Why? Because I want to make my life more worthy, colorful and meaningful.

At last, here is my admiration for those who are on the their way to achieving their dreams. 

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