Beingtheheadofahighschoolformanyyears,Igrewtiredofbudgetmeetings,fundingcuts,andmanyotheradministrativechores(杂务).Istartedtodreamofretirement.Sittingintrafficonaweekdaymorning,Iwouldfindmymindwanderin

　　Beingtheheadofahighschoolformanyyears,Igrewtiredofbudgetmeetings,fundingcuts,andmanyotheradministrativechores(杂务).Istartedtodreamofretirement.Sittingintrafficonaweekdaymorning,Iwouldfindmymindwandering.Iwouldimaginespendingtimewithmygrandchildren,quieteveningswithmywife,traveling,orrediscoveringsomegreatbooks.ItoldmyselfthatIwouldn’tsignmyselfupforanycommittees,anyclasses,oranythingrequiringaschedule.

　　Myfirstdayofretirementcameatlast!Icookedagreatbreakfastformywifeandme,leisurelyreadthepaper,cleanedabitofthehouse,andwroteafewletterstofriends.Onthesecondday,Icookedbreakfast,readthepaper…Onthethirdday,…Thisisretirement?Itriedtotellmyselfthatitwasjustthetransition(过渡),thatthosegoldenmomentswererightroundthecorner,andthatIwouldenjoythemsoonenough.Butsomethingwasmissing.

　　Aformercolleagueaskedafavor.AgroupofstudentswasgoingtoJamaicatoworkwithchildreninthepoorestneighborhoods.WouldIinterruptmynewfound“happiness”andreturntothestudents,justthisonce?Onetrip.That’sall.Mybagswerepackedandbythedoor.

　　Thetripwasveryinspiring.IwasmovednotonlybythepovertyIsawbutalsobythesenseofresponsibilityoftheyoungpeopleonthetrip.WhenIreturnedhome,Iofferedtoworkonedayaweekwithalocalyouthorganization.TheexperiencewassopositivethatIwassoonvolunteeringnearlyfull-time,workingwithstudentsacrossNorthAmericatoassistthemintheirvoluntarywork.

　　Now,itseems,thetableshaveturned.SomedaysIamtheteacher,otherdaysIamthestudent.Theseyoungpeoplehavereawakenedmycommitment(责任感)tosocialjusticeissuesbychallengingmetolearnmoreaboutthesituationintheworldtoday,wherepeoplearestillpoorandsufferbecauseofgreed,corruptionandwar.Mostimportant,theyhavegivenmetheopportunitytocontinuetoparticipateinhelpingtofindsolutions.Inreturn,Ihelpthemdotheircharitableprojectsoverseas.I’vegonefromrunningoneschooltohelpingoverseetheconstructionofschoolsintwenty-onecountries!

　　小题1:

　　Whatdidthewriterexpecttodoafterheretired?A．Towritesomegreatbooks.B．Tostayawayfrombusysc