【推荐2】A big company wanted a manager, so John went there. In the interview the director asked him a question. “Who paid for your school fees(学费)?” “My mother paid for them by washing clothes.” Hearing this, the director asked John to show his hands. John showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect. The director said, “When you go back today, go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.”

When John went back, he happily asked his mother to let him clean her hands. However, his tears fell as he cleaned his mother`s hands. It was the first time he noticed that there were so many bruises (伤痕) in his mother’s hands. After finishing the cleaning of his mother’s hands, John quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

The next morning, John went to the director’s office. The director noticed the tears in John’s eyes and asked, “Please tell me your feelings.” John said, “First, I know what appreciation (感激) is now. Without my mother, I would not be successful. Second, by helping my mother, now I realize how difficult it is to get something done. Third, I have realized the importance of family relationship.”

The director said, “This is what I am looking for to be my manager. You can get the job.”

【推荐2】The extremely cold winter greets me as I start going to the Smithsonian subway and take a moment to look at how empty the capital Washington is. Ten minutes later, I arrive at Union Station, which is almost empty. The public-address system tells me the time table of the train, but I fear it is being played for an audience of one. I silently begin to weep, and then my tears start to break down my emotional dam.

For me, everything changed on March 8, 2020. I was in my office at 2:00 P. M. when one of my leaders announced that we were to immediately leave the building and wait for further instructions. For two hours, I sat on a bench on Constitution Avenue, my heart racing.

I didn’t have any real experience working from home. Then one day I did. I held out hope that this would last a few weeks. This, of course, is when everything changed. I started to get really frightened. I watched the news trying to learn every detail. The number of infections kept increasing: 25,000 dead. We soon passed 100,000. It was like watching a disaster movie.

It has been almost one year since the pandemic(大流行病)began. It has a great influence on me because my life is all about routines, sometimes to the extreme. I have always been a social person, even though I stutter(口吃). Now, I wasn`t allowed to socialize. I had no problem wearing a mask every time I went out. But I couldn’t stand being unable to shake hands and hug. My depression started to throw me into a world of darkness.

However, I know something is wrong and I need to reach out for help. The late singer Bob Marley said, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” How true that is, and it was especially meant for times like these.

In many ways, the pandemic has forced me to count my gratitude. To begin with, I have a job. I work in a city that means a great deal to me personally, where I feel safe and no one judges me because of my disabilities. My friends in the stuttering community have continually helped me get through rough time I have had.

Perhaps the most important thing of all is that I’ve reconnected with my family. We haven’t always had an easy relationship, and at times we have been distant. However, sometimes it takes sufferings to rebuild new bonds.

Toughness and gratitude…Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that a virus would make me thankful, but it has made me see life in a new way.

【推荐3】In the depths of Catoctin Mountain Park, 19-year-old Melita Bell almost broke down. Having been working at Camp Greentop, a summer camp for people with disabilities, for just a week, she didn’t think she could keep going. “I’m gonna quit. This is outside of my comfort zone... I wonder if I’m even making a difference with these campers.” Bell said.

The second week, she changed her mind. She grew to love what she was doing. “It’s more physical and harder, because we have campers who have a lot of personal care needs and things like that, but I just got more joy out of it,” she said.

Bell came back to camp year after year until she began working full-time at the camp. The camp was created in 1937, supporting people with intellectual and physical disabilities, whether they are developmental or acquired. “They’re not for their condition. They’re here to have fun, to socialize, and to find other people to connect with.” Bell said.

Greentop is made up of six sessions (期), each about a week long. Two are for adults (18-plus) only, two are just for ages 7 to 21, and two are for all ages. The adult-only sessions are relatively unstructured, allowing campers to do whichever activity appeals to them. The other sessions are much more structured. Campers cycle between different activities around camp in 45-minute sessions, which kind of gets some campers into trouble. Instructors make sure to “put ability first”. They create ways for every camper to participate in an activity. If a camper can’t use their hands, they can use their mouth to paint during arts and crafts.

“Our instructors get a 10-day-long training before camp starts, where they learn to master necessary skills of taking care of people with disabilities. They take the responsibility of caring for youth or adult participants very seriously and do what they can to maintain an environment that improves safety and wellbeing of all participants, as well as encourages personal growth and independence.” Bell said.