自己挣钱上大学
I will never forget one day in my first year in high school. I was sitting on the stairs descending1） into the basement， putting my head in my hands and crying out in despair to my parents that I would never be able to save enough money for college. My parents tried to console me， but it seemed impossible to save ＄64，268， the cost for the private institution that I desperately wanted to attend.
Now let me tell you the amazing story of how I earned this sum of money.
It all began with a paper route in Ankeny， IA. I hated delivering that route， but was determined to stick it out for six months until my family moved to Wausau， WI. With a few meager2） dollars from my paper route， a small nest egg began to develop. My next job was with an athletic company as a telephone customer service representative. The savings account continued to grow very slowly. Then， the fall of my junior year of high school， I began to waitress at Denny's restaurant. It was hard work， but the money began to roll in3） and this job paid at least twice as much money per hour.
By the time my senior year arrived， I had saved a considerable amount of money. This was encouraging， but I knew that I would also need some help， so began the process of applying for scholarships. Sometimes it was discouraging because I was rejected again and again. Then， my first scholarship offer came in， ＄2，000 a year to play tennis. This is only a small dent4） at a school that costs approximately ＄14，000 a year， but it was a start. Several other academic scholarships also came my way5） and soon I was up to have ＄9，050 in scholarships. Between scholar-ships and savings， I had enough money for my first year.
Another interesting development emerged. I began testing out of classes. Running anxiously to the mailbox in anticipation of my test scores became part of my daily routine. Excitement mounted6） as test after test came back with passing results. Each passing result saved me approximately ＄1，000 in tuition and then enabled me to graduate a year early. This would save room and board7） expenses as well.
Finally， I was off to college. Because of careful saving， I did not have to work during the school year. Then， summer hit and it was time to work harder than ever. I continued working as a waitress at night， instructed tennis camps several mornings a week and worked as a secretary for a few hours in the afternoons. Being a little overzealous， I decided to also take a class at a community college. This class at the community college saved me ＄650. It was an exhausting summer and made me anxious to return to my relatively easy life at college.
During my second and third years of undergraduate schooling， I decided to work about five hours per week in the campus admissions office answering phones. This provided a little spending money and kept me from draining8） my savings. The overall situation looked hopeful as I approached my senior year as long as I could make as much money as I had the previous summer. That is when I decided to go to Israel to study for 3 weeks. I hesitated in making this decision and had just about decided not to go because it would cost me ＄1，600 more to get the credits in Israel. About two weeks later my Mom called to tell me that I had ＄1，600 in the bank that I had forgotten about. One of my concerns about this trip was not only the cost， but the loss of time to make money；however， I made as much that summer in the ten weeks that I was home as I had made during the fourteen weeks that I was home the summer before. The way everything worked together to make this trip feasible was one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me.
Finally， my senior year of college was upon me and to keep things interesting， I decided to buy a car. I obviously did not have a lot of money to spend for a car and yet I wanted something reliable to make the ten-hour trips between home and school. I searched many newspaper ads and my father and I began searching for good used cars. I was ecstatic when I found a crashed car that had been fixed up for only ＄4，200.
Then， I also attended an 8-week course on marriage and family in Colorado. This was an incredible experience that taught me a great deal about my worldview and how to develop a healthy family. This experience was also very costly， ＄4，000. I was surprised to find that I had graduated with no debt and so many remarkable journeys along the way.
This experience has shaped me in many important ways. The first thing that I learned was the importance of a strong work ethic. Working long hours did a lot to mold my character and helped me learn the value of a dollar. It also made me learn how to craft creative solutions to difficult dilemmas9）。
Whenever I am overwhelmed or afraid of the future， I can remember my ＄64，268 miracle.
□by Ginger Butler
我永远不会忘记， 在我读高一时， 有一天， 我坐在通往地下室的楼梯上， 双手抱着头， 绝望地对父母哭诉说， 我怎么也攒不够上大学的钱。父母极力安慰我， 可当时要挣够64268美元（这是我迫切想上的那所私立大学的费用）， 看来是不可能的。
现在让我告诉你我挣这笔钱的令人惊异的过程。
一切是从我在艾奥瓦州安克尼市送报纸时开始的。我很讨厌那条送报路线， 但我决心干下去， 我坚持干了6个月， 直到我们家迁往威斯康星州的沃索市。随着每次送报纸换来的几块钱， 我的存款开始慢慢多起来。我的第二份工作是给一家运动员公司做电话客户服务代理。存折上的钱增长速度仍然很慢。之后， 在我上高二的秋季， 我开始在丹尼斯餐馆当侍者。工作很辛苦， 但钱来得快， 每小时的报酬至少要多出一倍。
等到了高三的时候， 我已经存下了相当数量的钱。这颇让人鼓舞， 但我知道这仍不够， 所以我就开始申请奖学金， 可接二连三地遭到拒绝， 这有时让我颇感沮丧。后来我等来了第一笔奖学金， 每年2000美元， 条件是我得为学校打网球。对进这所大学每年要花费高达14000美元来说， 这只是杯水车薪， 但仍不失为一个良好的开端。之后， 我又获得了几项学科奖学金， 很快， 奖学金的总额达到9050美元。有了奖学金， 再加上我自己的存款， 第一年的学费足够了。
随之又有了进展， 挺有意思的。我开始参加不同课目的免修考试。每天焦虑不安地冲向邮箱， 盼望能取得考试成绩， 这成了我生活的一部分。当一个又一个考试通过的通知寄来时， 我的激动之情也与之俱增。每通过一门课目的考试可节省约1000美元的学费， 并可让我提前一年毕业。这样还可以省下伙食费和住宿费。
我终于跨进了大学的校门。由于精打细算， 大学第一年里我不用去打工。但等暑假到来时， 我又得拼命去打工。我继续在晚上在餐馆当侍者， 同时每周几个上午去网球夏令营当教练， 下午再做几个小时的秘书。我太过心急， 便同时又在社区大学修了一门课。这门课为我节省了650美元。这样夏季过完时我已经疲惫不堪， 盼望着开学后回到轻松一点的大学生活。
大学的第二年和第三年， 我决定每周在学校招生办公室工作5小时， 接听电话。这样我可以挣点零花钱， 不必动用积蓄。等进入第四学年时， 我对自己已经很有信心。只要暑假能再挣到上一个暑假那么多的钱就够了。可我同时还想去以色列学习3个星期。当时我犹豫不决， 正要决定放弃， 因为去以色列修学分要多花1600美元。大约过了两个星期， 我妈打电话告诉我， 说我在银行里还存有1600美元， 而我早把它给忘了！关于以色列之行， 除了费用之外， 另外一个顾虑是失去了挣钱的时间。然而， 那个暑假我在10个星期内挣下了相当于上个暑假14个星期挣的钱。各种巧合使得我的以色列之行得以实现， 这是我一生所经历过的最激动人心的事情之一。
最后我进入大学的第四学年。为了事事都称心， 我决定买辆车。我显然不可能有太多的钱花在车上。但我需要一辆性能可靠的车， 以便我能轻松地往返于家和学校之间（约10小时车程）。我开始搜寻报纸上的广告。我爸和我一起查找性能良好的二手车信息。当我找到一辆撞毁后重新修复的车， 只需4200美元时， 我欣喜若狂。
后来我还参加了科罗拉多州的一个为期8周的关于婚姻和家庭的研习班。这是一次不可思议的经历， 它改变了我的世界观， 并教会了我如何建立一个健康的家庭。然而这次经历的花费也不低：4000美元。等我毕业时， 我惊奇地发现， 我没有任何负债， 而且还在大学期间进行了那么多令人难忘的旅行。
这些经历在我身上产生了重大影响。首先我学到了一种坚定的敬业精神的重要性。连续数小时长时间的工作塑造了我的性格， 并让我懂得了每一元钱的价值。它还让我学会了在遇到难题时如何设计出富有创意的解决办法。
每当我对未来感到不知所措或惧怕时， 我就会想到我那64268美元的奇迹。
descend vi. 下来， 下降
meager adj. 不足的，菲薄的
roll in 大量拥有钱
dent n. 初步（或有效的）进展
come sb.'s way （事情）与某人不期而遇，变得对某人有用
mount vi. 增加，增长
board n. （尤指包饭的）伙食，膳食
drain vt. 消耗，渐渐耗尽
dilemma n. 进退两难的局面， 困难的选择
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