給自己的建議

A PROPOSAL TO MYSELF

I am writing this the day before I find out my fate —the day before I know the answer to what will happen in my life. I am determined to see the world in every aspect that may be possible for me. I am sure that I will become something, even if the envelope that carries my life inside it carries bad news.

I will not listen to those who insist that a university degree is the only way you will find a means of living these days. I have experienced what I like to live, and I will tell myself that even if that envelope is a rejection, I will carry on and go on to see mountains, swim in the sea and count the stars. I know I must continue to live my life the way I know how to.

The envelope that will reach my mail-box tomorrow will bring an answer that I am ready to bear with courage and self-respect. I am independent by nature. I accept who I am and will continue to live regardless of whether or not I am accepted into a college. I will always be true to myself and to those around me. I will remember my friends, acquaintances and idols, and I will wish them the best of luck in life.

The envelope that is to reach my house will not only be a letter, but rather a decision that I will make with my life. I am confused, as most people of my age around this time are, but I will not look back. I will only look toward tomorrow and greet each day with a smile wherever I may be.

【助讀詞匯】

◇rejection n. 拒絕，抵制，拋棄，駁回

【參考譯文】

給自己的建議

在我知道自己命運的前一天——在我知道生活里將會發生什么的前一天，我寫下此文。我決心要盡可能從各個視角看這個世界。我信心十足，將大有作為，即使包裹著我命運的信封里帶來的是壞消息。

我不會聽信那些堅持說這個世道要想找到一份糊口的工作必須有個大學文憑的人。我按自己的喜好生活著，而且我會這樣告訴自己，即使信封里是封拒絕信，我也會繼續前進，去看大山，去海里游泳，去看星辰。我知道我得按自己熟知的方式繼續生活。

明天將投進我信箱的那封信會帶來答案，而我已經準備好帶著勇氣和自尊去面對它。我生性獨立。我接受真正的自己，不管有沒有被大學錄取，我都將繼續生活。我會永遠忠于自己，對周圍的人坦誠相待。我會記住我的朋友、熟人和偶像，并祝愿他們好運。

將送到我家的那封信不僅是一封信，而且還是我對自己人生做的決定。我困惑了，就像很多我的同齡人在這個階段一樣，但是我不會往后看，我只會直視明天，不論我將身在何處，我都會用笑容迎接每一天。

【人生啟迪】

認為一張紙就能改變自己命運的人是多么的被動啊！人的命運仿佛大海，有潮起便有潮落，不管成敗與否，你都還是你自己。要像本文的作者那樣，不管境遇如何糟糕，都要接受自己，看得起自己，你才有信心去面對人生中的低谷，熬過生命中的低潮。