Student Testimonial: Ten Years of Gratitude by Jialing Shi 感恩十年——施佳玲的故事

I am Jialing Shi from the beautiful and peaceful Hengsha island of Chongming district. 我是施佳玲，来自崇明横沙，上海的世外桃源。

I remember how hot it was the summer of my mother’s operation. We didn’t know if she would be able to work again. While my father earned what he could doing tempary jobs in Shanghai, I knew I was needed at home. I would not be able to go school in downtown Shanghai as I’d planned, but now hoped to stay in my local high school on Chongming Hengsha island. My applications for aid were unanswered until Teacher Ding and an interviewer arrived at our home one scorching hot summer day. That was the day my I started my journey with Shanghai Sunrise, ten years ago.

依稀记得10年前的那个夏天，父亲还是一个打工仔，到处打散工，母亲刚做完手术不久，身体虚弱，而我，考虑到家里的实际情况，放弃了能考去上海重点高中的机会，选择留在了小岛。家境贫寒的我在开学之后一如往常地填写了一份助学金申请表，以为和之前填过的某些表格一样，可能就这样石沉大海了，但就在材料交掉后的某一天，丁老师在乡以及村干部的陪同下，冒着酷暑来到了我家。于是，从这个夏天起，我和初阳的缘分就开始了。

Nervous and excited to attend the first event with my sponsor, I traveled from Chongming Hengsha to Baoshan the day before. I wanted to be sure that I did not miss the event! Unfortunately, my sponsor was not there. Disapointed at first, I began to realize how many people, including expats, cared and were willing to help students like me. I felt gratitude and this started to positively change how I saw the world.

第一次参加与资助人的见面会，我很紧张，想到要见我的资助人，期望能当面象她致谢谢。我提前一天从小岛出发住在了宝山，这样离我们第二天见面的酒店近一点。很可惜，资助人本人没能出席见面会。 但这次见面会还是让我第一次系统地认识了初阳，感受到了原来有那么多国内外友人愿意帮助并关心着我们这群有困难的孩子。

I communicated with my sponsor by writing letters. Not knowing how to start, or what to say, I was nervous. I revised my first letter many times before sending it. I even asked my English teacher for help! I remember getting feedback that the letter was too formal, and that I needed to add more emotion, to be myself. Looking back, I smile when I think about that first letter and how much I have grown.

虽然没有机会见到自己的资助人，后来我与我的资助人通过写信开始了沟通。记得第一次写信，自己改了很多遍，但是仍然不放心，于是改完后还拿去给我的英语老师看了一遍，我的英语老师看完后说，我的信写的太生硬了，不自然。现在想想当时的我好像有点搞笑，有点紧张过头，不知道说什么，也不知道怎么说。

Determined not to disappoint - and to show my appreciation- I worked very hard in school. I kept a positive spirit and met all expectations of the school. Because of my determination, I was accepted into University. I was once again very lucky because this was the first year that Sunrise offered scholarships to help college students, and I was one of them.

为了不辜负资助人的期望，高中三年，我很努力地学习，一直保持着积极向上的精神，终不负众望，考上了大学。经过初阳组织的大学生助学金申请面试后，我再一次幸运地成为了那一拨被初阳眷顾的学生。

As a university student I engaged in more Shanghai Sunrise events than I had before. In addition to the Sponsor Pairing Ceremony, I partipicated in the Rickshaw event, Charity Sale, Career Day and company visits. During school holidays I volunteered to visit other students and their families. My horizons broadened. One day I saw the interviewer who had arrived at my home that hot summer day when my future was still unknown. She commented on how much more confident I had become. I am confident, brave, active and creative, thanks to Shanghai Sunrise.

相比较于高中，初阳为大学生准备的活动相对比较丰富。包括资助人接对仪式志愿者、寒暑假家访志愿者、人力车挑战赛、慈善义卖、职业日、企业开放日在内的很多活动让我的视野更加开阔，我的思想更加丰富，我的个性不再那么腼腆，我的目标更加明确。记得某一次参加活动正好碰到当年面试我的面试官，她夸我，“你比当年面试时自信了”，我想，这应该归功于初阳。

Afer graduating in 2016, I worked for an airline company. Last year, I moved back home where the situation has improved since that summer ten years ago. My mother’s health is better now. I work for the local township finance department and am close to my family.

2016年毕业后我先在一家航空公司工作，去年我回到了自己的家乡， 相对于十年前的夏季，家里的状况改进了很多。母亲的身体已经好转，我现在乡财政所工作，与家人在一起生活。

To me, Shanghai Sunrise is more than a charity that gives financial support. It has become a community that mentored me to be positive. It helped me establish a better view of the world. My sponsors, the sponsors of students, the staff, and volunteers never looked down on our starting point in life. They only built us up. That is more important than just helping with money.

我觉得对于我来说，初阳不仅仅是资助我的一个慈善机构，更是我的人生导师。我的资助人、初阳办公室的工作人员，还有初阳其他的资助人们，他们不会看低我们的生活起点，而是给予我们尊重与理解，同时和我们分享他们的人生经验，给我们传播正能量，帮助我们树立正确的世界观、价值观、人生观，我想这是比简单的物质帮助更为重要的。

There is a saying in Chinese that teaches us that the greatest luck in life is not money, nor winning. Instead, it is to have someone believe in us and to encourage us to be the best versions of ourselves. Shanghai Sunrise has been that for me, and I am very grateful.

之前看到一段话，说人生最大的运气，不是捡钱，也不是中奖，而是有人可以鼓励你，指引你，帮助你，发现更好的自己，走向更高的平台。所谓的贵人，并不是直接给你带来利益的人，而是开拓你的眼界，纠正你的格局，给你正能量的人。我想，初阳就是我最大的运气，就是我的那个贵人，感谢初阳！

Time flies and life changes, but Shanghai Sunrise will always be a part of me. I will always continute to give to them the same support that they gave to me. It has been my pleasure to share my story with you.

时间如白驹过隙，十年的时光转瞬即逝。但，只要初阳Sunrise需要我，我一直在！笔心！