Believe and Achieve

Carlos Watson

    1  “Children, what is two plus two?” the teacher asked. “Yellow!” I shouted, and with that I was kicked out of my kindergarten class for the sixth time in two weeks. 

    2  It was 1974 in Miami, Florida. This wasn’t the last time I’d be asked to leave the class. After more than 20 such expulsions, I was asked to leave the school altogether. My mother and father were frustrated, embarrassed and clearly at the end of their rope. I began to withdraw, becoming the opposite of my usual energetic and talkative 5-year-old self. By the time my parents took me to see a child psychiatrist — prompted by a teacher’s suggestion that I might be mentally retarded — all three of us probably thought about giving up on me. 

    3  After my difficult kindergarten year, the school let me enter first grade in the fall, but I was under strict supervision. Not surprisingly, this second chance yielded similarly discouraging results. I remember how I used to high-five my best friends, Bruce and Gary, when our teachers gave us low grades. I realize now that my acting out was from boredom, as I had already learned everything they were teaching from my older sister. Although my parents were angry at my behavior, they knew I could do better. They disciplined me at home but also remained vigilant in their support of me, constantly looking for ways to help me move forward. Finally in 1976, after numerous calls and meetings, they enrolled me in a school on the campus of the University of Miami. 

    4  My new public school, West Lab Elementary, gave me a third chance — and provided me with an environment in which I could thrive. The teachers challenged me with tough work assignments and held my interest. While I didn’t become an angel overnight, with my parents’ support and a new school, I got on the right track and developed the self-confidence I desperately needed. I began completing my homework, receiving good grades, and seeking my teachers’ approval.

    5  Many years later, after I graduated from Harvard with honors and became a lawyer and the CEO of my own company, my mother reflected that, when I was a child, no one would have predicted a successful future — no one except a mother, that is. My parents were crucial in helping me through a nightmare that engulfs so many children, especially young Black boys. As I was on the brink of being condemned as a problem child, they intervened so I would have a chance. And I have been blessed with opportunities. After college, I worked in politics, becoming chief of staff and campaign manager for a Florida legislator. I attended Stanford Law School and, after some years at a leading consulting firm, founded a company with my sister, Carolyn, and my best friend, Jeff Livingston. Our company, Achieva, offers innovative software, books and workshops to help school districts across the country prepare their students for college. 

    6  One reason I started Achieva is that I realized how critical a second (or even third) chance could be in a young person’s life. The indelible memory of being counted out, then helped back in, inspired me to help others. The early lessons I learned about overcoming obstacles also gave me the confidence to chart my own course. 

    7  I sold Achieva, a multimillion-dollar company, in 2002. Since then I have gathered the courage to try something different: My return to politics as a political analyst has been challenging and exciting. 

    8  In all my experiences, I have always seen the importance of having people in your life who help and support you. Every struggling child deserves a chance, and he may even need two or three. 

(616 words)

1. After more than 20 such expulsions, I was asked to leave the school altogether. 

这样被逐出了20多次后， 我终于被校方彻底开除。 

altogether 意为  entirely, completely “完全地；全部地” 。

2. I began to withdraw, becoming the opposite of my usual energetic and talkative 5-year-old self. 

我开始变得孤僻离群，与平日里那个充满活力、特爱说话的5岁男孩判若两人。

本句中 becoming the opposite of my usual energetic and talkative 5 -year-old self 是状语，表示结果。

3. By the time my parents took me to see a child psychiatrist — prompted by a teacher’s suggestion that I might be mentally retarded — all three of us probably thought about giving up on me. 

由于一个老师的暗示——我可能弱智，父母便带我去看小儿精神科医生。此时，可能我们三人都想到了不应再对我抱任何希望。

本句是复合句，主句为 all three of us probably thought about giving up on me ，从句 By the time my parents took me to see a child psychiatrist 表示时间。其中 prompted by a teacher’s suggestion that I might be mentally retarded 可以理解为 which was prompted by a teacher’s suggestion that I might be mentally retarded ，是对 my parents took me to see a child psychiatrist 的解释。

4. I realize now that my acting out was from boredom, as I had already learned everything they were teaching from my older sister.  

现在我明白了当时我那种发泄是厌恶所致，因为我已从我姐姐那儿学会了老师所教的一切。 

as I had already learned everything they were teaching from my older sister 是原因状语从句。

5. They disciplined me at home but also remained vigilant in their support of me, constantly looking for ways to help me move forward.  

他们在家里对我严加管教，但又时时不忘给我支持，并一直寻求办法帮助我前进。

本句中 constantly looking for ways to help me move forward 是状语结构，表示伴随状态。

6. My new public school, West Lab Elementary, gave me a third chance — and provided me with an environment in which I could thrive.  

我就读的这所新的公立学校——西区实验小学，给了我第三次机会，并为我提供了一个让我得以成长的环境。

本句中 West Lab Elementary 为 my new public school 的同位语，是对 my new public school 的补充说明。

7. While I didn’t become an angel overnight, with my parents’ support and a new school, I got on the right track and developed the self-confidence I desperately needed. 

尽管我没有在一夜之间变成天使，然而有了父母的支持和一个新的学习环境，我还是走上了正轨，并树立起我极需的自信。 

While I didn’t become an angel overnight, ... 是一个表示让步的状语从句， while 意为 although “尽管，虽然”。

8. Many years later, after I graduated from Harvard with honors and became a lawyer and the CEO of my own company, my mother reflected that, when I was a child, no one would have predicted a successful future — no one except a mother, that is.  

多年之后，在我以优异的成绩从哈佛毕业，当了律师以及我自己公司的执行总裁后，母亲回忆说，在我小的时候，没有人——确切地说，是除了一位母亲外——会预言我有成功的一天。

9. The indelible memory of being counted out, then helped back in, inspired me to help others.  

我被开除、而后又被帮着送回学校这一不可磨灭的记忆激励着我去帮助别人。

10. I sold Achieva, a multimillion-dollar company, in 2002. 

2002年，我将市值数百万美元的 Achieva 公司出售。 

本句中 a multimillion-dollar company 是 Achieva 的同位语，是对 Achieva 的补充说明。