How did you get caught? --- U Chicago's essay
Everyone was not satisfied with our monitor. My friends said that this guy was timid to make decision and unaware of our needs. Some suggested that I took place of him because I was a friend with everyone and they would be willing to have me as the monitor, but I laughed and refused. I just embarrassed the guy on every occasion, and our class was in a funny mess.
On December 27th, 2007, my sixteenth birthday, we went to an auditorium for a concert in the afternoon. Ms Wang told us to have lunch at school and arrive there by 1:30. However, a couple of my friends said they wanted to go out. "It's your birthday. Let's go somewhere else."
Their words stirred my will of rebellion. I looked at Ms Wang and thought, why should I listen to you?
Finally, we went to a pizza restaurant. Surprisingly, the monitor came with us. He sat at the same table though hardly anybody spoke to him. At last, I said to him, "Since you have come, let's eat together."
I was initially happy because I had "summoned him to surrender". Contrary to my expectation, he left the restaurant after eating only one piece. We immediately discovered that he was a spy who had gone to inform it to the teacher. It was 1:15 already! When we arrived at the auditorium, Ms Wang was right there waiting at the door while the monitor was snickering beside her. I was fooled; we got caught.
That day, Ms Wang talked a lot with me. She asked me why I insisted on breaking the rules and also led others to do so. "You are influential in the class. I will feel hard to manage everything if you take the lead to break the rules. Have you ever thought what I shall do if you do whatever you like and other boys too? I know you are not satisfied with the monitor, but I hope you can think ways to solve the problem, not to make more trouble to show your discontentment."
I went home alone that day. Ms Wang's words echoed again and again in my mind. I calmed down, and rethought what I had done all this days. I had always considered myself as a leader of the students, but was I? Is being a leader just like creating a mess in the class with my friends? A true leader should at least take his responsibility.
I was more orthodox after that day. I finally entered our class election and was elected as the monitor. Actually, that job was not easy. I once had prejudice over our former monitor because of his "inability", but the truth was that I didn't understand unless I was on his position. On many situations, our prejudice is not because of misunderstanding, but refusing to understand. Besides, shouldn't an open and friendly person be broadminded, aiming to do something good, rather than so cynical and always eager to find other's faults? If I can influence others, I should do something that is beneficial for everyone; if I cannot, I should at least comely with the rules. This will not make me look unintelligent. The important thing is not how much I can influence people, but how much I can benefit them.
The 7 boys who went together to eat out that day became brothers in our soccer team and short movie studio. When we were fighting together for our trophy and our movie, I felt completely different from before. We supported each other, finished the task together efficiently, and promised each other to cooperate again in the future. In those days, I realized the first time the true happiness of being a friend and a leader.
Please review. Thanks!~
Everyone was not satisfied with our monitor. My friends said that this guy was timid to make decision and unaware of our needs. Some suggested that I took place of him because I was a friend with everyone and they would be willing to have me as the monitor, but I laughed and refused. I just embarrassed the guy on every occasion, and our class was in a funny mess.
On December 27th, 2007, my sixteenth birthday, we went to an auditorium for a concert in the afternoon. Ms Wang told us to have lunch at school and arrive there by 1:30. However, a couple of my friends said they wanted to go out. "It's your birthday. Let's go somewhere else."
Their words stirred my will of rebellion. I looked at Ms Wang and thought, why should I listen to you?
Finally, we went to a pizza restaurant. Surprisingly, the monitor came with us. He sat at the same table though hardly anybody spoke to him. At last, I said to him, "Since you have come, let's eat together."
I was initially happy because I had "summoned him to surrender". Contrary to my expectation, he left the restaurant after eating only one piece. We immediately discovered that he was a spy who had gone to inform it to the teacher. It was 1:15 already! When we arrived at the auditorium, Ms Wang was right there waiting at the door while the monitor was snickering beside her. I was fooled; we got caught.
That day, Ms Wang talked a lot with me. She asked me why I insisted on breaking the rules and also led others to do so. "You are influential in the class. I will feel hard to manage everything if you take the lead to break the rules. Have you ever thought what I shall do if you do whatever you like and other boys too? I know you are not satisfied with the monitor, but I hope you can think ways to solve the problem, not to make more trouble to show your discontentment."
I went home alone that day. Ms Wang's words echoed again and again in my mind. I calmed down, and rethought what I had done all this days. I had always considered myself as a leader of the students, but was I? Is being a leader just like creating a mess in the class with my friends? A true leader should at least take his responsibility.
I was more orthodox after that day. I finally entered our class election and was elected as the monitor. Actually, that job was not easy. I once had prejudice over our former monitor because of his "inability", but the truth was that I didn't understand unless I was on his position. On many situations, our prejudice is not because of misunderstanding, but refusing to understand. Besides, shouldn't an open and friendly person be broadminded, aiming to do something good, rather than so cynical and always eager to find other's faults? If I can influence others, I should do something that is beneficial for everyone; if I cannot, I should at least comely with the rules. This will not make me look unintelligent. The important thing is not how much I can influence people, but how much I can benefit them.
The 7 boys who went together to eat out that day became brothers in our soccer team and short movie studio. When we were fighting together for our trophy and our movie, I felt completely different from before. We supported each other, finished the task together efficiently, and promised each other to cooperate again in the future. In those days, I realized the first time the true happiness of being a friend and a leader.
Please review. Thanks!~
