师者引星火，同窗共舟楫
Teachers Ignite Sparks, Classmates Share the Journey
{师者引星火，同窗共舟楫}
Ian Zhang
宋庆龄学校国际部
2025届毕业生
录取院校
Carnegie Mellon University
卡内基梅隆大学
University College London
伦敦大学学院
University of St Andrews
圣安德鲁斯大学
Northeastern University
东北大学
English
从幼儿园到高中毕业，我在宋庆龄学校的十四年的生活，像一本厚厚的相册。翻开来，占据心头的不是冰冷的成绩单或试卷，而是一幕幕鲜活的画面：老师的声声鼓励在耳边回响，朋友搀扶的温暖犹在掌心，奔跑中放肆的大笑仿佛就在昨天……这些，是我记忆深处最纯粹的“快乐”。我想定格其中两个片段——关于恩师，关于一次与朋友难忘的同行，聊聊那些照亮宋校岁月的温暖故事。
恩师
点燃好奇，抚平不安的引路人
回想课堂，每位老师都带着独特的光芒。Seiver老师用幽默设计让数学化成有趣的拼图；Dima老师用一场场羽毛球赛点燃我们的活力；Nikola 老师将化学方程式变成解谜游戏；林祖谋老师耐心细致的讲解，帮我推倒了物理的 “恐惧墙”；升学季的迷雾里，是王艺蓉老师点亮一盏灯，耐心为我照亮前路；而 Senor Valdes老师 和Puig老师，则像两位和蔼的旅伴，一路陪伴我徜徉在西语的天地。而走进我内心深处，让我发生转变的，是Dods老师。
▲我在实验室
初遇Dods老师，格子衬衫，厚厚镜片下是他小而有神的双眼，他笑着对我们说：“You're not just students, you're young scientists.(你不仅仅只是一名学生，你更是一位年轻的科学家)” 。他并非刻板严肃师长，更像一位对生命和学习本身充满热忱的“科学家”。
课下的他，毫无架子。会认真听我们聊动漫，讨论午餐吃什么，甚至在我们考试前紧张时，一句轻松的“You'll be fine（你一定没问题！）” 就能神奇地安抚人心。同学们都说，他是真正能让我们 “放下所有防备” 的老师。
▲Dods老师
曾经的我是连提问都怯生生的学生。因为总觉得提问是“麻烦老师” ，更怕问题太蠢会惹人笑话。一次环境科学课上，我被“碳汇”这个词深深困扰，课后犹豫再三，终究没敢问出口。没想到几天后，Dods老师在走廊叫住我，微笑着说：“You seemed puzzled today.（你今天看起来有些小困扰）” 我愣住了——他竟然捕捉到了我最近的困惑！终于鼓起勇气尝试对他说出我的疑问后，Dods老师没有丝毫敷衍，还特意找了关于“碳汇”的视频，边播放边耐心解释，直到确认我真正理解。
之后，我的内心像推开了一扇窗。我开始积极在课堂上举手，敢于说出自己的疑问，大胆表达自己的想法。一次课后，我们随机聊到人类影响气候的方式，我说完观点，他竟认真地点头：“That's an interesting point, never thought of that.（你说的想法真是太有趣了，我还从来没想过这些。）”那一刻，我第一次感受到，老师不仅是知识的传授者，也可以是欣赏我、愿意倾听我的朋友。
▲我和Dods老师
最让我感到意外的是在水培实验课上。我鼓起勇气问了个自己都觉得傻，但困扰我很久的问题：“老师，鱼在水培系统里游泳会不会觉得无聊？” 问出口的一刹那就后悔了。没想到他会心一笑：“那我们多给他点吃的，让他们加油工作？” 接着，他停下手头的工作，认真为我解释鱼的行为习性，还反过来问我：“你觉得环境丰富度对生物行为的影响有多大？”那一刻，我忽然明白：在他眼里，没有愚蠢的问题，只有尚未展开的思考。
从此，“提问”在我心里不再是怯懦犹疑的举动，而是一次对话的开始，一次探索的邀请。这种对“提问”从不安回避到积极主动的转变，不仅让我在学习上变得自信，更收获了一种意想不到的快乐——流淌在师生之间的温暖与互信。
同行
虎跳峡上的那双手与我们一起抵达的风景
虎跳峡研学那天，山风拂面，阳光穿透云层，耀眼得有些刺眼。午饭后，望着眼前陡峭的山路，我心里直打鼓。想到即将开始的漫长爬坡之路，甚至闪过“装作肚子疼留在车上”的念头。但看着身边兴奋打闹的同学，听着此起彼伏的加油声，我咬咬牙，迈出了第一步。
云南虎跳峡
上山的路，在说笑中延伸。平坦的大道渐渐收窄，变成崎岖的石径，脚下凹凸不平的石头让我有点小小的紧张，每一步都格外小心谨慎。突然，我感觉踩到一块松动的小石块，顿时一惊，可就在这时，一双手稳稳地扶住我的肩膀。那一刻，虽来不及看清面容，那份来自同窗的守护，却深深烙印在心。
▲虎跳峡徒步
最险峻的路段，我们自觉排成一列。后面的同学，总会自然地托一下前面同学的书包。我们相互鼓励，互相支持，当终点出现在眼前，相视而笑的那份喜悦，比任何奖励都珍贵。原来这一路，在互相传递的每一瓶水里，在每一次不经意的搀扶中，我们已悄然遇见了更好的自己。回望那段山路，它教会我的不仅是坚持的意义，更让我们感受到同行者的分量，领略到虎跳峡最美的风景。
▲云南采茶， 洱海骑行，内蒙古滑沙
如今，我的行囊里装着宋校十四年馈赠的星光——那是Dods老师点燃的好奇之火，是虎跳峡上同窗伸出的援手，是每一位师长用心点亮的微光。正是这些微光汇聚，照亮了我前行的路，也塑造了我此刻的模样。手握心仪大学的录取，我知道，一段崭新的旅程即将开启。脚步会迈向远方，目光会望向未来，但心，永远会为宋校留一个最柔软的角落。那些照亮成长的微光，那些曾托举过我的同行的手，早已融入血脉，成为我生命底色里最温暖、最恒久的光源。无论走多远，这份宋校的印记，这份遇见的美好，都将是我勇往直前最深的底气。感恩母校，感恩遇见！
——
From kindergarten to high school graduation, my fourteen years at Soong Ching Ling School feel like a thick photo album. Flipping through it, what fills my heart isn't cold report cards or exam papers, but vivid scenes: the echoes of my teachers' encouragement still ring in my ears, the warmth of a friend's supportive hand still lingers in my palm, and the unrestrained laughter while running through the campus feels like it was just yesterday. These are the purest "joys" etched deep in my memory. Today, I want to share two fragments—one about a beloved teacher, one about an unforgettable journey with my peers—to talk about the warmth that illuminated my time at Soong Ching Ling School.
▲Educational Trip to Singapore
▲Fifth-grade Graduation Photo with Ms. Li
▲Study Tour in New Zealand
▲Study Tour in New Zealand
Mentor
The Guide Who Ignited Curiosity and Soothed Anxieties
●●●
Looking back into my classrooms, each teacher radiated a unique light. Mr. Seiver used humor to turn math into fascinating puzzles; Mr. Dima ignited our energy through badminton matches; Mr. Nikola transformed chemical equations into mystery-solving games; Mr. Lin tirelessly demolished my "wall of fear" around Physics with patient explanations; during the fog of the college application season, Ms. Sophia Wang who patiently guided me, illuminating the path ahead; while Señor Valdes and Dr. Puig were like two amiable travel companions, journeying with me as I explored the world of Spanish. But the one who truly changed something within me was Dr. Dods.
▲In the Laboratory
My first encounter with Dr. Dods: plaid shirt, thick glasses, big smile. He said to us, "You're not just students, you're young scientists." He wasn't a rigid instructor, but more like a "scientist" brimming with genuine enthusiasm for life and learning itself.
Outside class, he had no airs about him. He would listen earnestly as we chatted about anime or debated lunch choices. Even when we were nervous before exams, a lighthearted "You'll be fine!" from him could magically calm us down. Classmates all agreed he was one of the few teachers who made us truly "let our guard down." This greatly benefitted me, since I was once that student who was timid about asking questions.
▲Dr. Dods
Back then, I always felt asking questions was "bothering the teacher," and I was even more afraid that my questions would be seen as stupid and invite laughter. During an Environmental Science class, I was deeply troubled by the term "carbon sink." After class, I hesitated but ultimately didn't dare ask. Unexpectedly, Dr. Dods stopped me in the hallway and said with a smile, "You seemed puzzled today." I was stunned—he had actually noticed my confusion! Summoning my courage, I voiced my question. He didn't dismiss it at all; instead, he specifically found a video about carbon sinks during our break time, patiently explaining as it played until he was sure I truly understood.
That moment was like opening a window. I started raising my hand in class, daring to express my thoughts. Once, while discussing ways humans affect the climate, I shared my view. To my surprise, he nodded seriously and said, "That's an interesting point, never thought of that."In that moment, I felt for the first time that a teacher wasn't just a transmitter of knowledge; they could also be someone who appreciated me and was willing to listen—a friend.
▲Me and Mr. Dods
The most surprising moment came during a hydroponics lab. I mustered the courage to ask what I thought was a silly question: "Dr., do the fish swimming in the hydroponic system ever get bored?" I regretted it instantly. But he laughed and said, "Well then, maybe we should give them extra snacks to motivate them?" Then, he paused and seriously explained fish behavior and habits, even turning the question back to me: "How significant do you think environmental enrichment is for animal behavior?"In that moment, I suddenly understood that in his eyes, there were no stupid questions, only thoughts waiting to unfold.
From then on, "asking a question" ceased to be an act of timidity in my mind. It became the start of a conversation, an invitation to explore. This shift from avoidance to engagement not only made me more confident in my studies but also brought me an unexpected kind of joy—realizing that such warmth and mutual trust could flow between teacher and student.
Journey Together
The Hands-on Tiger Leaping Gorge and the Scenery We Reached Together
●●●
On the day of our field trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge, the mountain breeze brushed against our faces, and dazzlingly bright sunlight pierced through the clouds. After lunch, staring at the steep mountain path ahead, my heart pounded. Thinking about the long climb, I even fleetingly considered faking a stomachache to stay on the bus. But watching my excited classmates joking around and hearing the chorus of encouragement, I gritted my teeth and took the first step.
Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yunnan
The path upwards stretched on amidst chatter and laughter. The broad, flat road gradually narrowed into a rugged stone path. Every step required extra care; the uneven rocks beneath our feet kept us on edge. Suddenly, I stepped on a loose stone! My foot slipped, and I momentarily lost my balance! Panicking, I flailed my arms, but my body lurched uncontrollably towards the edge... At the critical moment, a pair of hands firmly grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back to safety. Before I could see who, it was, a teacher's voice called from ahead, and I had to hurry to catch up.In that moment, though I never saw their face, that act of guardianship from a classmate was deeply imprinted on my heart.
▲Hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge
On the most treacherous stretch, we automatically formed a single-file line. The person behind would naturally give a slight push to the backpack of the person in front. When the finish line finally came into view, the moment we exchanged triumphant smiles was more precious than any award. I realized then that in every bottle of water passed between us, in every casual act of support, we had quietly encountered better versions of ourselves. Looking back at that mountain path, it taught me not only perseverance but also the true weight of companionship. These fragments of warmth pieced together the most authentic backdrop, the purest joy of my youth.
▲Tea Picking in Yunnan, Cycling around Erhai, Lake Sand Sliding in Inner Mongolia
Now, I carry starlight in my backpack—a gift from fourteen years at Soong Ching Ling School. It's the fire of curiosity ignited by Dr. Dods, it's the helping hand extended by a classmate at Tiger Leaping Gorge, it's the glimmer of light carefully kindled by every teacher. It was the convergence of these glimmers that illuminated my path forward and shaped who I am today. Holding the offer letter from my dream university, I know a new journey is about to begin. My steps will carry me far away, and my gaze will turn towards the future, but my heart will always keep the softest corner reserved for Soong Ching Ling School. Those glimmers that illuminated my growth, those hands that lifted me up along the way, have long since blended into my veins, becoming the warmest, most enduring source of light in the underlying fabric of my life. No matter how far I go, this imprint of Soong Ching Ling and the beauty of the encounters I had, will be the deepest wellspring of courage propelling me forward.
I am grateful to my alma mater, and grateful for all the encounters I’ve had here!
——
☑Ms. Chen and Me
【竞赛报名/项目咨询+微信：mollywei007】
