Passionate Pursuit of Possibility
Anonymous
追求无止境
心灵寄语
世界上只有一种失败，那就是“放弃”。只要心怀梦想，勇于追求，一切看似不可能的事都有可能成为现实。要记住，只有“追求”，梦想才能成为“现实”。
Years ago，while unearthing an ancient Egyptian tomb，an archaeologist1came upon seeds buried in a piece of wood。Planted，the seeds realized their potential after more than 3，000years！
Are the conditions in the lives of people so discouraging，so defeating，that human beings-regardless of inherent potentiality-are doomed to lives of failure and quite desperation？Or are there also seeds of possibility in people，an urge for becoming that is so strong that the hard crust of adversity is breached2？Consider this story from the Associated Press on May 23，1984.
As a child，Mary Groda did not learn to read and write。Experts labeled her retarded3.As an adolescent，she“earned”an additional label，“incorrigible4”，and was sentenced to two years in a reformatory5.It was here，ironically，in this closed-in place，that Mary-bending to the challenge to learn-worked at her task for as long as 16hours a day。Her hard work paid off。She was awarded her（GED）high school diploma。
But more misfortune was to visit Mary Groda。After leaving the reformatory，she became pregnant without benefit of marriage。Then，two years later a second pregnancy resulted in a stroke，erasing her hard-earned powers of reading and writing。With the help and support of her father，Mary battled back，regaining what she had lost。
In a bad financial situation，Mary went on welfare。Finally，to make ends meet，she took in seven foster children。It was during this period that she started taking courses at a community college。Upon completion of her course work，she applied to and was accepted by the Albany Medical School to study medicine。
In the spring of 1984in Oregon，Mary Groda gave a speech at commencement6.No one can know what private thoughts went through Mary’s mind as she reached out to grasp this eloquent7testimony to her self-belief and perseverance，her diploma that announced to all the world：Here stands on this small point of Planet Earth a person who dared to dream the impossible dream，a person who confirms for all of us our human divineness8.Here stands Mary Groda。
佚名
多年以前，一位考古学家在挖掘一个埃及古墓的时候，从一块木头里发现了一些种子。他把这些种子种在地里，它们居然在3000多年后发挥出了自己的潜能，发芽了！
生活中是否也有这样的情况呢？你所生存的环境是否十分令人沮丧和绝望，不论多么有内在的潜能的人都注定会失败，在绝望中度过一生吗？或者人们心中是否也有着希望的种子，以及强烈的愿望可以突破逆境的封锁呢？看看下面这个故事吧！它是1984年5月23日登在联合报上的新闻。
小时候，玛丽·哥罗达没有去上学，专家们说她智力低下。在青年时期，她又被认定为是“无药可救”的代名词，甚至被送进管教所两年。但是，出人意料的是，她就在这样一个孤立的环境中开始了她的学习生涯。当时，她每天的学习时间长达16个小时。她的努力没有白费。她最终顺利从普通高中毕业。
但是，接下来玛丽·哥罗达遭遇了更大的不幸。离开了少年管教所后，她未婚先孕。接着，两年后，她又一次意外怀孕，这几乎让她打消了自学的热情和力量。在她父亲的帮助和支持下，玛丽度过了难关，重获她所失去的一切。
当时，玛丽十分贫穷，只能靠别人的救济生活。虽然只能勉强糊口，她还是收养了7个孩子。就是在这段时间，她开始了社区大学的学习课程。在修完所有的课程后，她又申请上大学，并且有幸被奥尔巴尼医学院录取了。
1984年的春天，玛丽·哥罗达在俄勒冈州的毕业典礼上做了一次演讲。没有人知道当时玛丽的脑子里想的是什么，但这个证书证明了她的自信和坚定不移的决心。她的毕业证书向全世界宣布：在地球的这个地方正站着一个敢于追逐看似不可能实现的梦想的人，她向我们证实了人类非凡的一面。那个人就是玛丽·哥罗达。
V
词汇空间
ocabulary
1.archaeologist n。 考古学家
2.breach v。 破坏，违背
3.retarded adj。（尤指儿童）（智力）发育迟缓的，弱智的
4.incorrigible adj。 无可救药的，屡教不改的
5.reformatory n。 管教所
6.commencement n。 毕业典礼，学位授予典礼
7.eloquent adj。 雄辩的，有口才的
8.divine adj。 神圣的，非凡的
文化链接
Culture Background
1.美国联合通讯社＼The Associated Press（AP）
美国联合通讯社是美国最大的通讯社，国际性通讯社之一。简称美联社，英语直接称为“联合通讯社”。汉语为将其和其他国家的联合通讯社区分开来，加上其所属国家之名称，称为“美国联合通讯社”。英文简称AP。
2.奥尔巴尼医学院（Albany Medical School）
奥尔巴尼医学院成立于1839年，是一所私立的医学院，是美国最古老的医学院之一，隶属于奥尔巴尼医学中心。
妙语拾珠
1.Or are there also seeds of possibility in people，an urge for becoming that is so strong that the hard crust of adversity is breached？
或者人们心中是否也有着希望的种子，以及强烈的愿望可以突破逆境的封锁呢？
2.Here stands on this small point of Planet Earth a person who dared to dream the impossible dream，a person who confirms for all of us our human divineness。
在地球的这个地方正站着一个敢于追逐看似不可能实现的梦想的人，她向我们证实了人类非凡的一面。