| Reference Key |
 |
1. Paul Wiley was a 27-year-old
American ice skater who could never win the big competitions.
Many times he considered retirement but he persevered. Younger
skaters consistently defeated him, yet he kept practicing
and competing. Then he finished second in the 1992 Olympics
in France and became a hero. Applause greeted him as he stepped
off the plane bringing him home from the Olympics. Fame and
endorsements came his way. But he remained very modest and
did not consider himself a hero. He said that selfless service
can make a true hero, and he also hoped that his story would
inspire other people. This would be another kind of hero.
Like skating, he felt that life requires the regular practice
of small actions which add up to make a larger whole. It's
not necessary to be famous to be a hero in daily life.
2. No matter how many obstacles lie in the way, you can
reach your goal as long as you don’t give up and persevere.
To illustrate, look at the story of Paul Wylie, an American
figure skater. Paul took part in the 1988 Calgary Olympics
and 1991 World Championships, but his performance was so unimpressive
that after the ’91 World Championships he was advised to quit.
Paul himself had frequently thought of retirement, but he
persevered anyway. He decided not to give up. At last, his
perseverance paid off. He won a silver medal at the 1992 Winter
Olympic Games at the age of 27 and became an Olympic hero.
|
|
|
Listen
