A few years ago, I went on a trip to Washington, D.C., where I saw many of our nation's treasures. I also saw a lot of our fellow citizens on the street —unfortunate ones like beggars and homeless folks.
Standing outside a shopping center, I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw a blind elderly woman with her hand out. In a natural reaction, I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my 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. I just need help to find the post office.”
In an instant, I realized what I had done. I had acted with prejudice —I judged another person simply on what I assumed she had to be. The thing I forgot about myself was that I am an immigrant. I arrived in the U.S. at the age of 15. Through the years, I have worked as a dishwasher, a cashier and as a pizza delivery driver; eventually I became a network engineer.
In my own life, I have experienced many acts of prejudice. I remember when I was 17 —I was a busboy, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. But now, living in a middle-class lifestyle, it is very easy to forget the past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to go. That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C. cured me of my inner blindness. She reminded me of my belief in humility and that I should always keep my eyes and heart open.
By the way, I helped that lady to the post office, and in writing this text, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson.
【日积月累】
-prejudice n. 偏见，伤害，成见
-immigrant n. 移民
-humility n. 谦逊，谦卑，谦虚
【参考译文】
宝贵的一课
几年前我去了一趟华盛顿，在那参观了许多国家宝藏，也在大街上看到了很多市民——包括乞丐和流浪汉这些可怜的人们。
站在一个购物中心门外，我听见一个声音：“你能帮帮我吗？”我转过身看到一个失明的老妇人向我伸着手。我很自然地把手探进口袋，掏出了所有的零钱放在她手里，看都没看她一眼。我讨厌被乞丐纠缠。
但是这位老妇人笑着说：“我不要你的钱，只是想叫你帮我找下邮局在哪。”
我马上意识到了我做了什么。我凭成见行事——仅凭自己的想法，就下结论别人是什么人。我忘了自己也是移民。我15岁的时候来到美国。从那以后，我做过洗碗工、收银员和送比萨的司机，最后才成为一名网络工程师。
在生活中，我也遇到过许多对我抱有偏见的人。我记得17岁的时候，我在公共汽车上做售票员，有一次听到一位父亲告诫他的儿子，如果他不努力学习，以后就会跟我一样。但是，因为现在过着中产阶级的生活，所以我一不小心就忘记过去，忘记自己是谁，忘记曾经经历过什么，也模糊了想去的方向。华盛顿大街上的那位老妇人治愈了我失眠的心灵。她让我想起我曾经坚持的谦虚，提醒我应该永远睁大眼睛，敞开胸怀。
顺便提一句，我把老奶奶送到了邮局。我希望通过此文感谢她给我上的这宝贵一课。
【人生启迪】
我们应该永远像麦穗一样保持一颗谦卑的心。不要凭外表论人，衣衫褴褛下也许是一颗最质朴晶莹的心。不要被世俗所左右，那样你会忘记真正的自己是什么样子，甚至忘记自己该前往的方向。