The Dream of Flying in the Wind Translated by Zhang Bao 2018.6.3

In 1959, when Joan Harper was in third grade, the teacher asked the class to write an essay on the topic: What do you want to do when you grow up?

Joan grew up on a farm farm in northern California, where her father was a pilot on airplanes spraying pesticides on crops. She has been fascinated by airplanes and flying since she was a child, and she feels that this essay assigned by her teacher can help her express her dreams. So, she did her best to write this essay and wrote all her dreams in it. She wanted to fly an airplane to spray crops like her father. She also wanted to skydive, implement artificial rainfall, and even become a pilot of a passenger plane.

However, she only got an "F" in this essay, which is a failure. The teacher explained to her that "it's just a myth" because none of the jobs she listed were for women to do. Listening to the teacher's words, she was very sad and felt very ashamed and disappointed.

She showed her father the composition. My father said, "Of course you can be a pilot." Alelia Earhart is a female pilot. Your teacher is simply unheard of, and he is open-mouthed. ”

However, her father's words did not change Joan, and as time passed, Joan's heart was still full of negativity and pessimism. Whenever she talks about her dreams, people say, "A girl can't be a pilot, not now, not in the future." You're so whimsical, that's completely impossible, it's just insane. Finally, she gave up on this longing dream.

In Joan's final year of high school, her English teacher was a lady named Dorothy Slayton. She is conscientious, meticulous, and very demanding of her students, with high standards and no excuses. She never teaches her students as children, but expects them to behave like responsible adults, and behave like the norms they must behave in order to succeed in society after graduation. At first, Joan was a little afraid of her, but then she began to be in awe of the harshness and justice she had shown.

One day, Mrs. Slayton gave the class an essay, "What do you want to do in 10 years?" and Joan pondered the question, thinking about how to complete the essay. To be a pilot? That's obviously impossible. Being a flight attendant, but I'm not pretty, and the airlines won't accept me. Be a wife? But who will marry me? How about being a waitress? Yes, I can do that, no problem. So, she wrote down the idea.

Mrs. Slayton received the students' essays and did not say anything at the time. Two weeks later, she sent the essay back to everyone and placed it face down on her desk. Then, she asked, "Students, if you have enough money, if you have enough opportunity to go to the best school, and you have enough talent and talent, what will you do?"

Joan's heart swelled with the enthusiasm of the past: she felt excited and excited, and wrote down all the dreams that had been hidden in her heart for so many years. When the students had finished writing, the teacher asked, "Students, how many of you are writing about the same profession in these two essays?"

Mrs. Slayton then spoke something that completely changed the course of Joan's life. She quietly leaned over the students in front of the podium and said, "I have a little secret to tell you. This means that each of you is indeed talented and talented enough to have the opportunity to go to the best school. And if you have a strong desire, you will be able to raise enough money. And that's the way it is, when you leave school, if you don't pursue your dreams on your own, then there will be no one to help you. As long as you have a strong desire, you will be able to achieve your dreams. ”

Listening to Mrs. Slayton's words, the hurt and fear that had been inflicted on Joan by years of frustration and discouragement gradually faded. She was uplifted and encouraged. After class, she walked up to the podium and thanked Mrs. Slayton, telling her that her dream was to become a pilot. Mrs. Slayton stood up slightly, slapped the table, and said, "Well, let's go and work hard!"

Joan began to work towards achieving her dream, but it wasn't all smooth sailing, nor did it happen overnight. She has been fighting for it for 10 years. In the past 10 years, she has faced all kinds of pressure and resistance, including silent doubts, categorical opposition, and contempt and humiliation of her. But she is suffering in silence and is always looking for ways to do so.

Eventually, she became a private jet pilot and obtained the necessary qualifications to fly cargo planes and even short-haul passenger planes. However, she has always been just a co-pilot. Her boss made no secret of the fact that because she was a woman, he could not promote her. Her father had also asked her to try to find another job. "That's impossible, don't bang your head against the wall," he said. But Joan replied, "Dad, I don't agree with you, and I'm sure things will change." At that point, I will be the head of these people. ”

Joan continues to act out the myth that her third-grade teacher had said. She flew airplanes to spray pesticides on crops, parachuted hundreds of times, and flew airplanes to carry out artificial rainfall in the summer. In 1976, she became one of the first three female pilots hired by United Airlines. At that time, there were only 50 female pilots in the United States. Today, Joan Harper is the captain of a United Airlines Boeing 737.

It was the power and effect of that positive affirmative word spoken at the right time by Mrs. Slayton, whom Joan respected. It was this inspiring spark that rekindled the belief of this little girl who couldn't make up her mind, and gave her the confidence and strength to pursue her dreams.