An Influential Person
“John Nash”
Jonathan Cross
Duke University
After Spending A week with John Nash, I may have stumbled upon a central purpose of my life. Well, not Nobel Laureate John Nash himself, but whenever I describe Fred, their characteristics seem quite parallel. Fred is unique, possessing an indomitable spirit to fulfill his dreams without fear of failure. Not only is he the most brilliant young man I have ever met, he exhibits a genuinely compassionate heart. Sadly, many people may never recognize Fred as the beautiful individual that he is, or what he has to offer. While our society may call him “challenged,” I have come to recognize him as an unexpected role model.
For Fred, you see, is autistic. He does not interact well with people, and is often unable to express his thoughts clearly or articulately. He doesn’t understand why people laugh at him. Yet even so, Fred is blessed with an acute sense of purpose and caring that is unmatched by most—including perhaps even the most altruistic among us.
Several years ago, I traveled with a small group of Fairfax County high school students to Portland, Oregon to compete as a Finalist in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. I was excited at what was certain to be an experience of a lifetime—having no clue that the most valuable lesson would come not from the Science Fair itself, but from Fred. Because of my prior experiences in working with special needs children, the school administrators asked me to room with Fred during the trip. I distinctly recall my initial anxiety and reluctance about the prospect of taking care of another individual during the stressful, high-pressure atmosphere of the competition. In retrospect, though, this was the beginning of an incredible journey for both of us—but especially for me.
Fred’s passion—actually more of an obsession—is theoretical mathematics. He eats, breathes, talks, and probably sleeps mathematics, to the point where he annoys others by his constant chatter about it. His idea of fun is solving differential equations on a napkin in a fancy restaurant, oblivious to others wanting to socialize or relax. That Fred is brilliant is unquestioned, a fact that was clearly evidenced in his science project, where he solved a math problem previously believed by experts to be insolvable. Yet in his own mind, Fred firmly believed his entire raison d’etre in life was the pursuit of math—and that he was destined to use his incredible mathematical ability to help make the world better.
However, Fred’s disabilities were only a fraction of the challenges that faced him. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, he suffered from a lack of love and patient understanding. Still, Fred’s life revolved around his relationships and mathematics. Although he has few close friends, people are indescribably important to him, and he always treated them with sensitivity and compassion. Unfortunately, some people—including but not limited to his peers (who can sometimes be quite cruel)— are unable to set aside their prejudices long enough to see his uniqueness as the incredible gift that it is. His enthusiasm and his indomitable spirit in the face of adversity taught me valuable lessons—lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life. He taught me to live for what you truly cherish, to be passionate about your dreams, and to always smile in both the service of others and adversity. He has shown me the truest meaning of love for others, and the ability to understand and always live for what is important. A trip that started with me “taking care of him” turned into a trip of substantial personal discovery.
Children with special needs have powerful talents, and if we could only open our hearts to hear their voices, we would learn what it means to live without conventional boundaries. I have lived a week with a genius, not only of the mind, but more importantly, of the heart—and my life has been permanently changed because of Fred.
An Influential Person
Una persona influente
“John Nash”
“Giovanni Nash”
Jonathan Cross
Jonathan Croce
Duke University
Duke University
After Spending A week with John Nash, I may have stumbled upon a central purpose of my life.
Dopo aver trascorso una settimana con John Nash, potrei essermi imbattuto in uno scopo centrale della mia vita.
Well, not Nobel Laureate John Nash himself, but whenever I describe Fred, their characteristics seem quite parallel. Fred is unique, possessing an indomitable spirit to fulfill his dreams without fear of failure.
Beh, non lo stesso premio Nobel John Nash, ma ogni volta che descrivo Fred, le loro caratteristiche sembrano abbastanza parallele. Fred è unico, possiede uno spirito indomabile per realizzare i suoi sogni senza paura di fallire.
Not only is he the most brilliant young man I have ever met, he exhibits a genuinely compassionate heart. Sadly, many people may never recognize Fred as the beautiful individual that he is, or what he has to offer.
Non solo è il giovane più brillante che abbia mai incontrato, ma mostra un cuore sinceramente compassionevole. Purtroppo, molte persone potrebbero non riconoscere mai Fred come il bellissimo individuo che è, o ciò che ha da offrire.
While our society may call him “challenged,” I have come to recognize him as an unexpected role model.
Sebbene la nostra società possa chiamarlo "sfidato", sono arrivato a riconoscerlo come un modello inaspettato.
For Fred, you see, is autistic. He does not interact well with people, and is often unable to express his thoughts clearly or articulately. He doesn’t understand why people laugh at him.
Perché Fred, vedi, è autistico. Non interagisce bene con le persone e spesso non è in grado di esprimere i suoi pensieri in modo chiaro o articolato. Non capisce perché le persone ridono di lui.
Yet even so, Fred is blessed with an acute sense of purpose and caring that is unmatched by most—including perhaps even the most altruistic among us.
Eppure, anche così, Fred è benedetto da un acuto senso di scopo e premura che non ha eguali per la maggior parte, incluso forse anche il più altruista tra noi.
Several years ago, I traveled with a small group of Fairfax County high school students to Portland, Oregon to compete as a Finalist in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
Diversi anni fa, ho viaggiato con un piccolo gruppo di studenti delle scuole superiori della contea di Fairfax a Portland, nell'Oregon, per competere come finalista all'Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
I was excited at what was certain to be an experience of a lifetime—having no clue that the most valuable lesson would come not from the Science Fair itself, but from Fred.
Ero entusiasta di quella che sarebbe stata sicuramente un'esperienza di una vita, non avendo idea che la lezione più preziosa non sarebbe venuta dalla Fiera della scienza in sé, ma da Fred.
Because of my prior experiences in working with special needs children, the school administrators asked me to room with Fred during the trip.
A causa delle mie precedenti esperienze di lavoro con bambini con bisogni speciali, gli amministratori della scuola mi hanno chiesto di alloggiare con Fred durante il viaggio.
I distinctly recall my initial anxiety and reluctance about the prospect of taking care of another individual during the stressful, high-pressure atmosphere of the competition.
Ricordo distintamente la mia iniziale ansia e riluttanza riguardo alla prospettiva di prendermi cura di un altro individuo durante l'atmosfera stressante e ad alta pressione della competizione.
In retrospect, though, this was the beginning of an incredible journey for both of us—but especially for me.
In retrospettiva, però, questo è stato l'inizio di un viaggio incredibile per entrambi, ma soprattutto per me.
Fred’s passion—actually more of an obsession—is theoretical mathematics. He eats, breathes, talks, and probably sleeps mathematics, to the point where he annoys others by his constant chatter about it.
La passione di Fred, in realtà più un'ossessione, è la matematica teorica. Mangia, respira, parla e probabilmente dorme matematica, al punto da infastidire gli altri con le sue continue chiacchiere a riguardo.
His idea of fun is solving differential equations on a napkin in a fancy restaurant, oblivious to others wanting to socialize or relax.
La sua idea di divertimento è risolvere equazioni differenziali su un tovagliolo in un ristorante di lusso, ignaro degli altri che vogliono socializzare o rilassarsi.
That Fred is brilliant is unquestioned, a fact that was clearly evidenced in his science project, where he solved a math problem previously believed by experts to be insolvable.
Che Fred sia brillante è indiscusso, un fatto che è stato chiaramente evidenziato nel suo progetto scientifico, in cui ha risolto un problema di matematica precedentemente ritenuto irrisolvibile dagli esperti.
Yet in his own mind, Fred firmly believed his entire raison d’etre in life was the pursuit of math—and that he was destined to use his incredible mathematical ability to help make the world better.
Eppure, nella sua mente, Fred credeva fermamente che la sua intera ragion d'essere nella vita fosse la ricerca della matematica e che fosse destinato a usare la sua incredibile abilità matematica per contribuire a rendere il mondo migliore.
However, Fred’s disabilities were only a fraction of the challenges that faced him. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, he suffered from a lack of love and patient understanding.
Tuttavia, le disabilità di Fred erano solo una parte delle sfide che lo fronteggiavano. Cresciuto in una casa disfunzionale, soffriva di mancanza di amore e di comprensione paziente.
Still, Fred’s life revolved around his relationships and mathematics. Although he has few close friends, people are indescribably important to him, and he always treated them with sensitivity and compassion.
Tuttavia, la vita di Fred ruotava attorno alle sue relazioni e alla matematica. Sebbene abbia pochi amici intimi, le persone sono indescrivibilmente importanti per lui e le ha sempre trattate con sensibilità e compassione.
Unfortunately, some people—including but not limited to his peers (who can sometimes be quite cruel)— are unable to set aside their prejudices long enough to see his uniqueness as the incredible gift that it is.
Sfortunatamente, alcune persone, inclusi ma non limitati ai suoi coetanei (che a volte possono essere piuttosto crudeli), non sono in grado di mettere da parte i loro pregiudizi abbastanza a lungo da vedere la sua unicità come il dono incredibile che è.
His enthusiasm and his indomitable spirit in the face of adversity taught me valuable lessons—lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Il suo entusiasmo e il suo spirito indomabile di fronte alle avversità mi hanno insegnato lezioni preziose, lezioni che porterò con me per il resto della mia vita.
He taught me to live for what you truly cherish, to be passionate about your dreams, and to always smile in both the service of others and adversity.
Mi ha insegnato a vivere per ciò a cui tieni veramente, ad essere appassionato dei tuoi sogni e a sorridere sempre sia al servizio degli altri che nelle avversità.
He has shown me the truest meaning of love for others, and the ability to understand and always live for what is important. A trip that started with me “taking care of him” turned into a trip of substantial personal discovery.
Mi ha mostrato il significato più vero dell'amore per gli altri e la capacità di capire e vivere sempre per ciò che è importante. Un viaggio iniziato con me “prendendomi cura di lui” si è trasformato in un viaggio di sostanziale scoperta personale.
Children with special needs have powerful talents, and if we could only open our hearts to hear their voices, we would learn what it means to live without conventional boundaries.
I bambini con bisogni speciali hanno talenti potenti e se solo potessimo aprire i nostri cuori per ascoltare le loro voci, impareremmo cosa significa vivere senza confini convenzionali.
I have lived a week with a genius, not only of the mind, but more importantly, of the heart—and my life has been permanently changed because of Fred.
Ho vissuto una settimana con un genio, non solo della mente, ma soprattutto del cuore, e la mia vita è stata cambiata in modo permanente grazie a Fred.
Opmerkingen