When I was seven years old, my family created an ant farm from a kit1. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we waited for the live ants to arrive. Shortly after the chilly ants were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels. I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do. After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had assigned jobs. With my mom’s help, I kept a diary of what happened each day and named the ants.
On day five tragedy struck the ant farm. The pages of the diary, still wrinkled where tear drops fell, indicate the depth of the tragedy. I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally tipped it over2, caving in3 all the tunnels. Although the ants survived their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was terrified as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother reported that the ants were dying of “frustration.” They simply could not stand the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed.
Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, but it taught me much more. Over the years, I came to realize the ants were a study4 in the benefits of teamwork. Working together, they were able to create an amazing world for themselves. I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work. Day in and day out5, each labored at their task. The ant farm showed that teamwork and perseverance6 are indeed two key ingredients to success. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently: Adversity7 is a natural part of life, and must be accepted. Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face disappointment. Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in, we just have to build another.
Giving up, I say, is not an option.
我七岁那年，家里人用工具箱造出了一个蚂蚁农场。首先，我们把干净的沙子铺在一个薄薄的玻璃箱子里，然后等待活蚂蚁们到来。当生性怕冷的蚂蚁被放进这个玻璃建筑后不久，它们就开始挖地道了。我真是惊叹不已——每只蚂蚁都清楚自己该干什么。盯着看了几小时后，我意识到，蚂蚁们分工明确。在妈妈的帮助下，我开始写日记，记录每天发生的事，还给蚂蚁都取了名字。
第五天，悲剧袭击了农场。日记的那几页，被我眼泪打湿的地方，至今仍皱巴巴的，可见那场悲剧有多惨重。我的脸离那个玻璃箱子太近了，不小心弄翻了它，里面的隧道也全塌陷了。尽管蚂蚁们当时在这场地震中幸免于难，却还是开始一只只相继死去。我看着它们放弃了隧道建设，把尸体一具具地搬到农场一角，心中恐惧万分。妈妈说这些蚂蚁是因“受挫”而死。他们只是不能承受隧道被毁这一事实。
尽管时间已经过去很久了，我还是想起那个蚂蚁农场。妈妈本是希望通过它，让我更了解自然界，而事实上它教会我更多。许多年过去了，我开始意识到蚂蚁是一种团队互利型的典范。齐心协力，他们能为自己创造出令人惊叹的世界。我也明白他们应该为自己的辛勤劳作而受到赞赏。日复一日，每只蚂蚁都恪尽职守。蚂蚁农场表明团队合作和坚持不懈的确是成功的两大关键要素。但是还有更重要的一条教训，我直到最近才明白：逆境是生活的一部分，我们必须接受它。人不像蚂蚁，在面对失望之时不会放弃。我们不像蚂蚁，我们知道如果一条隧道塌了，我们得另建一条。
放弃，不应在备选之列。
1. kit [kit] n. 工具箱
2. tip over打翻
3. cave in 下陷
4. a study 值得注意的事物
5. day in and day out 天天
6. perseverance n. 坚持不懈
7. adversity n. 逆境