“No one can promise that life will be fair,” but no matter what happens, follow the example set by Rehan Staton, and never lose sight of your goal.
Staton, a 24-year-old former sanitation (环卫) worker in Maryland, US, recently celebrated his acceptance into Harvard Law School.
Staton’s life was relatively normal until a series of setbacks impacted his family life and studies. “Things were pretty good until I was 8 years old. My mom abandoned my dad, my brother and me when she moved back to Sri Lanka.” he said.
When he was in seventh grade, a teacher even recommended that he be placed in special education classes. His brother Reggie then brainstormed ways to help boost his grades. An aerospace engineer also offered to tutor him free of charge. Staton’s grades did improve and he became an honor student.
However, he was rejected by every college he had applied for. So to help support himself and his family, Staton began working at a sanitation company. He spent his days transporting trash and cleaning dumpsters (垃圾箱), waking up every morning to get dressed around 4 am.
“The sanitation workers were the only people in my life who told me I could be somebody,” Staton said, “They would say, ‘You’re too young to be here. Go to college, and come back if it doesn’t work out’”.
The son of the company’s owner helped Staton contact a professor at Bowie State University, and the university eventually accepted Staton.
Things began to look up. Two years later, he transferred to the University of Maryland to continue pursuing his undergraduate degree. But Staton still struggled to pay for his father’s medical bills. He’d work in the morning and take classes in the afternoon.
After graduation, Staton worked at a national consulting firm while applying for law school. He plans to start at Harvard this fall, where he will major in sports law to pursue his dream of becoming a sports agent.
“For Rehan, the sky is truly the limit. Whatever he chooses to do in the future, he will definitely achieve,” said a chief operating officer of Staton’s firm.
For anyone looking for inspiration during difficult times, Staton recommends to “love yourself enough to get what you want out of life,” he told news outlet ABC. “You can always see the light in any dark situation, and you need to hold on to that light.”
36. It is implied in the passage that ______.
A.Stanton was considered too young to be a sanitation worker |
B.all the classes in the University of Maryland were in the afternoon |
C.Stanton worked as a sports agent while applying for law school |
D.at one time Stanton didn’t have a satisfying academic performance |
37. Why did Rehan Staton work as a sanitation worker?
A.To gain some work experience. | B.To help lighten his family’s financial burdens. |
C.To save money for his college education. | D.To help the sanitation workers who once helped him. |
38. What does the underlined sentence in the second-to-last paragraph imply?
A.Rehan was an observant sky-lover. | B.Rehan has limitations on what major he can choose. |
C.Rehan has an extreme fear of heights. | D.Rehan has endless potential to realize his dream. |
39. Which words can best describe Rehan Staton?
A.Strong-minded and optimistic. | B.Warm-hearted and easygoing. |
C.Inventive and diligent. | D.Cautious and modest. |
40. What is the author’s purpose in writing this article?
A.To share tips on how to get admitted into Harvard. |
B.To persuade readers to get support when in need. |
C.To encourage readers not to bend to hardships in life. |
D.To show the importance of working with the right people. |