Page 368 - Carrollton 2015

Excerpts from readings by Sara Dwyer and Nicole Die/, presented to the High School community at Ms. Zhang s memorial service May 15, 20/5

Sarah D w yer' 15
Over the past four years, Nicole and I have received the gift o f really coming to know Ms,
/hong. While her role as teacher remained clear, we reached a level o f comfort and mutual
care. She told us stories about her life in China, shared pictures o f Harry (her son),, and even
discussed philosophy with us-she always said she would be a great T O k teacher.

I credit essays to this growth. When you begin to learn a language, you spend a lot o f time
writing and speaking about yourself- your family, your school experience, your future plans, etc.
When we wrote about our family, Nicole and I would show her pictures sc that she could
visualize the people we spoke about. O n Wednesday, we were able to put faces to the names
of people we had only met through pictures and stories.

In our IB exam, we were given passages with words w e are sometimes unfamiliar with, and
we must commence to answer all different kinds o f Questions. Today we are In the middle o f
a passage that we cannot understand the meaning o f What we are experiencing together is
unexpected, unfamiliar, and unexplainable. We are faced With: difficult questions, and a lack o f answers.

To her family: Thank you for sharing your daughter with us for a wonderful five years. Thank you for the memories - o f Ms, Zhor-.g clapping
her hands together in pride and delight at the Chinese luncheon, o f her cookie monster bag
at the Chinese competition, and. o f her dislike o f Chipotle, and her essay continues with her
children Harry and Emma.

I have never been more honored in my young-adult life, than at this moment, right now,
speaking about a woman who truly embodies courage and confidence. She gave her
students the words to break a language barrier and a glimpse into another culture.
Lastly, I thank C od. While the comfort o f haying Ms. Zhong as a friend can never be
replaced, the beauty o f having had this time together can never be taken away.

Nicole Diaz' 15

A t Carrollton, we are privileged to be surrounded by faculty and staff who form personal
relationships with us. Ms. Zhong was one teacher who was, and continues to be, an inspiration
for us. The lessons she taught us transcend words and leave impressions in pur hearts that we
will carry with us across the country and around the world. She had an overwhelming passion for
Chinese culture, which often made her class feel impossible. But the more I immersed myself into
the culture, the more I. understood the motivation for this passion.

I ve had the privilege o f meeting many wise people, but
the lessons that have impacted me the. most have come
from casual conversations. A t the beginning o f senior
year, when a small envelope appeared in my mailbox
one afternoon, I was devastated. I walked into her class the next day, and her face instantly lit up. She
thought I had been accepted and was already in the process o f rushing over to me to give me a hug.

When 1told her that I had been denied, she hugged me anyway and reminded me that I can do great
things wherever I go; it s up to me to decide my future, not an admissions officer, and not a diploma.

During the Chinese Competition, Ms, Zhong empowered me in a unique way that continues to
motivate me in each o f my endeavors. She gave me the strength to conquer the impossible, the
confidence to keep going when I failed, and the clarity to see the beauty in the little things.

The final lesson I would like to leave you with is that there is always a plan, for us. Regardless o f your religious beliefs, there is a path for each o f
us, and our experiences lead us to our final destinations. Ms. Zhong, was placed in my life to teach me all o f these lessons I will carry with me
g out my i e. I am leaving her class and the Carrollton community with a new perspective on life and an appreciation for every moment.