My mother is a teacher, and I grew up with the challenges (挑战) a teacher faces. I often asked her, "Why do you teach? What keeps you teaching? "The answer was always the same. "There is always that one child, that one moment that is worth it."
Now, I am a teacher, too. But different from my mother, I teach students challenging activities outdoors. And when my mother asked me the similar questions, my answer was, "it's that one child, that one special moment."
One of those moments happened recently. I was working with a group of girls in a four-week programme. Everything went on well through the "Team" events and we were moving on to a "High" one called the wire（钢索） Walk．
In the Wire Walk, each girl had to climb up the pegs(木桩)in a tree to a wire, 8 meters high, and then walk across it. Of course, everything was safe for sure.
When I asked who would try, a few girls raised their hands, and they finished the Wire Walk with little difficulty.
But when it was Susie's turn, it seemed that she didn't really want to. I asked Susie if she was ready. She Answered softy, "I suppose."
Now, Susie was at the foot of the tree. She started to make the long reach for the first peg. The other girls cheered for her. Then I found Susie was becoming nervous with every step. I realised she would not go much further.
Susie was halfway up. Then she stopped and held the tree tight(紧紧地), looking very afraid. Her eyes were closed. With her face against the tree, she cried, "I can't."
The other girls sat in silence. I talked quietly to Susie, trying to relax her. I talked for a long time till I ran out of words.
"I will still be your friend no matter what, Susie!" Mary broke the silence.
To my surprise, Susie lifted her head and looked up to the wire. Then she turned to look down at Mary and smiled. Mary smiled back.
Finally, Susie made it all the way across that wire. When she returned to the ground, the first hug she looked for was from Mary.
We all cheered.
Moments like this keep me doing what I do. The young hearts continue to fill me with courage.
