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
Влиятельный человек
“John Nash”
«Джон Нэш»
Jonathan Cross
Джонатан Кросс
Duke University
Университет Дьюка
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.
Проведя неделю с Джоном Нэшем, я, возможно, наткнулся на главную цель своей жизни. Ну, не сам Нобелевский лауреат Джон Нэш, но всякий раз, когда я описываю Фреда, их характеристики кажутся довольно схожими.
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.
Фред уникален, он обладает неукротимым духом, чтобы осуществить свои мечты, не опасаясь неудачи. Он не только самый блестящий молодой человек, которого я когда-либо встречал, но и демонстрирует искренне сострадательное сердце.
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.
К сожалению, многие люди никогда не узнают Фреда как прекрасного человека, которым он является, или того, что он может предложить. В то время как наше общество может назвать его «брошенным вызовом», я пришел к выводу, что он является неожиданным образцом для подражания.
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.
Потому что Фред, видите ли, аутист. Он плохо взаимодействует с людьми и часто не может ясно или членораздельно выражать свои мысли. Он не понимает, почему люди смеются над ним.
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.
Тем не менее, даже при этом Фред наделен острым чувством цели и заботой, которые не имеют себе равных у большинства, включая, возможно, даже самых альтруистичных из нас.
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.
Несколько лет назад я поехал с небольшой группой старшеклассников округа Фэрфакс в Портленд, штат Орегон, чтобы принять участие в финале Международной выставки науки и техники Intel.
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.
Я был взволнован тем, что, несомненно, станет событием на всю жизнь — я понятия не имел, что самый ценный урок будет получен не от самой научной ярмарки, а от Фреда.
Because of my prior experiences in working with special needs children, the school administrators asked me to room with Fred during the trip.
Поскольку у меня уже был опыт работы с детьми с особыми потребностями, школьная администрация попросила меня жить в одной комнате с Фредом во время поездки.
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.
Я отчетливо помню свое первоначальное беспокойство и нежелание заботиться о другом человеке в напряженной атмосфере соревнований.
In retrospect, though, this was the beginning of an incredible journey for both of us—but especially for me.
Оглядываясь назад, можно сказать, что это было началом невероятного пути для нас обоих, но особенно для меня.
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.
Страсть Фреда — на самом деле скорее одержимость — теоретическая математика. Он ест, дышит, разговаривает и, вероятно, спит, занимаясь математикой, до такой степени, что раздражает других своей постоянной болтовней об этом.
His idea of fun is solving differential equations on a napkin in a fancy restaurant, oblivious to others wanting to socialize or relax.
Его представление о развлечениях — это решение дифференциальных уравнений на салфетке в модном ресторане, не обращая внимания на других, желающих пообщаться или расслабиться.
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.
То, что Фред гениален, не подвергается сомнению, и этот факт ясно проявился в его научном проекте, где он решил математическую задачу, ранее считавшуюся экспертами неразрешимой.
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.
Тем не менее, в своем уме Фред твердо верил, что весь смысл его жизни заключается в занятиях математикой и что ему суждено использовать свои невероятные математические способности, чтобы помочь сделать мир лучше.
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.
Однако инвалидность Фреда была лишь частью проблем, с которыми он столкнулся. Выросший в неблагополучной семье, он страдал от недостатка любви и терпеливого понимания.
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.
Тем не менее, жизнь Фреда вращалась вокруг его отношений и математики. Хотя у него мало близких друзей, люди для него неописуемо важны, и он всегда относился к ним с чуткостью и состраданием.
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.
К сожалению, некоторые люди, включая, но не ограничиваясь его сверстниками (которые иногда могут быть довольно жестокими), не могут отбросить свои предубеждения на достаточно долгое время, чтобы увидеть его уникальность как невероятный дар, которым она и является.
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.
Его энтузиазм и неукротимый дух перед лицом невзгод преподали мне ценные уроки — уроки, которые я пронесу с собой до конца своей жизни.
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.
Он научил меня жить ради того, чем ты действительно дорожишь, быть страстным в своих мечтах и всегда улыбаться как в служении другим, так и в невзгодах.
He has shown me the truest meaning of love for others, and the ability to understand and always live for what is important.
Он показал мне самое истинное значение любви к другим, и способность понимать и всегда жить для того, что важно.
A trip that started with me “taking care of him” turned into a trip of substantial personal discovery.
Поездка, начавшаяся с того, что я «заботился о нем», превратилась в поездку значительных личных открытий.
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.
Дети с особыми потребностями обладают мощными талантами, и если бы мы только могли открыть свои сердца, чтобы услышать их голоса, мы бы узнали, что значит жить без общепринятых границ.
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.
Я прожил неделю с гением не только ума, но, что более важно, сердца, и моя жизнь навсегда изменилась благодаря Фреду.
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