默默地成為了最大的笑點…… Gradually Becoming the Funniest Of All...
基於中部某公立學校家長會所有家長們的動能、
和學校裡面同仁們的愛心，
謝師宴宴會那天，是我親眼見到中部這個目前所服務學校
裡面的各方人馬的熱情，實在別開生面
其中一位導師還正巧有機會與我耳語一番：
「我剛剛才跟我們學年說，妳真的太有愛了，全班竟然16個學生拿滿分……」
我很想跟這位美麗的導師分享，我從在大學授課時就有「給分問題」，
修我課的學生當時常常流傳這件事，雖然我真的感到這實在不大好，
可是打到九十分以下我好像總是很「手軟」而打不下去那個「低分」……
謝師宴當天，我就如此這般幸運成為現金得獎教師的其中一名
又承蒙一個多月前大力協助教務主任勸說我留在台中的人事主任
慷慨解囊讓我帶著大家的愛心到國外服務
在這種充滿感動、感恩、感心的季節
忍不住想起
謝師宴前一天，有不認識的學生衝到我的教室跟我說：
「泡芙老師，聽說妳上課很好笑，妳下學期會教我們班嗎?! 」
我真的是不知道
自己怎麼就慢慢變成個大笑話了……
怎會如此這般滴呢~~~
Driven by the collective energy of the parent association of a municipal school in Taichung, and the care and goodwill of my colleagues within the school, the farewell banquet offered me a firsthand view of the remarkable enthusiasm and spirit among all those connected to my current school in central Taiwan. It was, in many ways, quite an eye-opening experience.
During the event, one homeroom teacher even had a brief moment to speak with me in confidence:
“I just told our year group that you are really too caring—your class actually has 16 students who scored full marks…”
I almost wanted to share with her that this has followed me since my university teaching days—that I have long had what students jokingly called a ‘grading issue’. Although I always felt slightly uncomfortable about that reputation, the truth is that anything below 90 seems to trigger a kind of… reluctance in me that makes it difficult to mark down further.
On that same day, I was also one of the fortunate recipients of a cash prize in the lucky draw.
In addition, I remain deeply grateful to the head of personnel, who, just over a month earlier, together with the academic affairs director, had made considerable efforts to persuade me to remain in Taichung. Their kindness was not only administrative, but genuinely personal.
With such generosity and goodwill, I was able to carry this collective care forward and bring it with me as I prepare to serve overseas. In a season filled with emotion, gratitude, and quiet reflection, I often find myself returning to a small moment just before the banquet, with an unfamiliar student suddenly rushed into my classroom and asked:
“Teacher Hope, I heard your lessons are really funny. Will you be teaching our class next semester?!”
And honestly, I still don’t quite know how to respond to that. Somewhere along the way, I seem to have become… a source of laughter and/or joke. How does every element turn into this, I cannot help but keep wondering.
Students' works are very brilliant.
I still need a lot more time to interpret all these
randomly chosen works which have brought
many wonderful messages of hope and love.
(Students' works are randomly chosen because there are just so many of them expressing identical notions:)
學生們的創作精妙絕倫。
面對這些(數量龐大但意念雷同的作品，於是只好)
隨機挑選卻承載著無數關於
「希望與愛」訊息的大作，我仍需傾注更多時間，
方能悉心解讀其中的深刻內涵。
For this one above, the student writes about how happy s/he is seeing Teacher Hope teach them every Wednesday by stating Teacher Hope "...is too good to be true. I hope to see you again (i.e. to be taught by you for another schoolyear) when I am grade 3."
This indicates that the second-grade student is looking forward to learning English in Teacher Hope's classroom once again next school year.
Her lessons are fun because she often jokes with us
and creates a relaxed atmosphere in class.
She also shares videos that she enjoys,
which makes the lessons more interesting.
She is patient and rarely gets angry, and
she always speaks to us with warmth and kindness.
I've never felt any harshness from her—only genuine goodwill.
At first, I thought Teacher Hope is very strict,
but after a while I realize she is actually a real good teacher.
One thing I really admire is that she can manage the whole class
just by speaking in a very gentle voice. I think that's really amazing.
Sometimes she also shows us short videos during class.
Many of us suffer from much pressure due to schoolwork: videos in her class sessions help us relax and make us feel much better.
EPILOGUE -- A HEART-TO-HEART MONOLOGUE FROM A PERSON PRACTICING ALTRUISTIC SERVICE LEARNING FOR A LONG TIME
心聲--來自一位長期進行利他服務學習人士的言語
昨天，我將一段心中的感受整理成文字。自六月十九日那場聚會之後，我一直讓自己慢慢沉澱，也明白有些想法仍在生成，有些體悟仍在醞釀。
(6/19聚會宣布請參照此連結謝謝https://morerayofhope.blogspot.com/2026/06/2026-2nd-quarter-sharing-event.html)
近來，我愈發察覺自己處理負面情緒的速度，比起過去快了許多。
我常覺得，人心就像一面塵封已久的鏡子。灰塵厚重時，我們甚至不知道那原來是一面鏡子，更遑論看見真正的自己。直到有一天，願意誠實地面對自己的過去，願意開始擦拭，那才發現，歲月累積的塵埃，並非一次便能拂去。
然而，每一次願意停下來反思，每一次願意放下執著、卸除偏見、接納自己的不足，那面鏡子便會多透亮一分。隨著內心的陰影一點一滴褪去，人也漸漸變得輕盈。這份輕盈，並非來自生活變得容易，而是來自不再耗費心力與自己對抗。當內耗減少，生命便騰出了更多空間，去關懷他人，去投入真正值得投入的事情。
回首這一路，我深深體會到，真正改變一個人的，往往不是轟轟烈烈的成就，而是在一次又一次困難面前，仍願意選擇善良，仍願意選擇相信，仍願意選擇付出。
曾經有一段時間，我也受到他人的扶持與陪伴。當時的我未必知道，在我看不見的地方，有多少人默默付出了耐心、時間與心力，只為扶起一個幾乎失去方向的人。直到多年之後，當自己開始陪伴別人，才逐漸理解，那些看似平凡的關懷，其實蘊藏著極大的重量。
或許正因如此，當後來有機會協助他人處理一件充滿挑戰、程序繁複且困難重重的事情時，我心裡始終只有一個念頭：既然有人曾經沒有放棄我，我也不願輕易放棄任何一個需要幫助的人。
過程中，總會遇見新的問題，也總要學習新的方法。解決了一件事情，又迎來另一件事情。真正成長的，從來不是事情本身，而是那個願意一次又一次站起來的人。
我也逐漸相信，自信並不是行動之前的條件，而是行動之後的結果。很多時候，我們並非因為有把握才開始，而是在一次次願意跨出腳步之後，才慢慢發現：原來自己比想像中更有力量。
近年來，我也開始明白，選擇一條帶有公益性質、甚至沒有任何財富上面回報的道路，並不容易。它伴隨著許多現實上的挑戰，也需要承受外界未必理解的眼光。然而，也正因為沒有利益作為交換，人反而更有機會重新認識自己的初心。
或許，真正的收穫從來不是完成了多少事情，而是在一次次選擇服務、一次次選擇傾聽、一次次選擇相信人性的過程裡，我們自己的心，也悄悄地被淨化了。
回頭看，原來最大的受益者，一直都是自己。
Yesterday, I found myself putting a few thoughts into words and sending them to a friend overseas. Since a gathering on 19 June, (with details of that event announcement listed here https://morerayofhope.blogspot.com/2026/06/2026-2nd-quarter-sharing-event.html)
I have been allowing those reflections to settle. Some thoughts have become clearer; others are still quietly taking shape. One change I have noticed in myself is that I recover from negative emotions much more quickly than I once did.
To me, the human heart resembles a mirror long covered in dust. At first, the dust is so thick that we scarcely realize a mirror exists beneath it. Only when we choose to face ourselves honestly do we begin the slow work of wiping it clean. It is never accomplished in a single attempt. Layer by layer, the dust gives way, and little by little the reflection becomes clearer.
As old burdens, regrets and self-imposed struggles begin to fall away, life feels lighter—not because circumstances have necessarily become easier, but because we are no longer expending so much energy fighting ourselves. Freed from that inner conflict, we discover that we have far more strength to devote to things that truly matter.
Looking back, I have come to believe that lasting growth rarely arrives through dramatic achievements. More often, it is shaped by the quiet decision to remain kind, to keep believing in others, and to continue serving even when the path is uncertain.
Earlier in my own life, I was fortunate to encounter people who extended patience, guidance and compassion at a time when I needed them most. Only years later did I begin to appreciate how much unseen effort had been invested on my behalf. What once appeared to be simple encouragement was, in reality, the result of extraordinary perseverance.
Perhaps that is why, when opportunities arose for me to support others through complex and demanding circumstances, I found myself approaching each challenge with quiet determination. There were obstacles at every stage, moments of uncertainty, and problems that refused to resolve themselves easily. Yet each difficulty became another invitation to learn, to adapt and to persevere.
One lesson has remained with me throughout these experiences: confidence seldom comes before action. More often, it follows action. Before we believe fully in ourselves, we first have to choose to move forward despite our doubts.
In recent years, I have also begun to understand that choosing a life of service—particularly one that offers little or no financial reward—is neither simple nor glamorous. It often involves sacrifice, uncertainty and practical difficulties that are invisible to others. Yet there is something quietly transformative about such a path. When personal gain is removed from the equation, one's motives are continually refined, and the heart is invited to return to what truly matters.
In the end, I have come to think that the greatest reward is not found in what we accomplish for others, but in what the journey gradually accomplishes within ourselves. Every act of service, every conversation, every difficulty patiently endured leaves the mirror a little clearer than before.
Perhaps that has been the greatest gift of all.
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