Foreword:
Theworldcanbeacoldandunforgivingplace,buttherearepeopleinitwhocanlightupthedarknesswiththeirwarmthandgenerosity.Thisisastoryofhowoneperson'skindnessandhopechangedmylifeforever.
Paragraph1:
Growingupinpovertywasnevereasy,butitwasevenharderwhenyouhavenoonetoturnto.Myparentswerebothalcoholics,andtheyspentwhatlittlemoneywehadontheiraddiction.Ihadtofendformyselfmostofthetime,anditwasaconstantstrugglejusttosurvive.
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Despitemycircumstances,Iwasalwaysagoodstudent.Ihadanaturalcuriosityandthirstforknowledgethatkeptmegoing.Idreamedofonedaybecomingadoctor,butthatdreamseemedsofaroutofreach.
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WhenIwas14,ImetMrs.Zhang.Shewasateacheratmyschool,andshetookaninterestinmerightaway.ShecouldseethatIwasbrightbutstruggling,andsheofferedtotutormeafterschool.
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Mrs.Zhangbecamemymentorandmyfriend.Sheencouragedmetobelieveinmyselfandtonevergiveuponmydreams.Shealsohelpedmewithmyschoolworkandgavemebookstoread.
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Oneday,Mrs.Zhangtookmetoafreeclinicinthecity.Itwasrunbyagroupofvolunteerdoctorswhoprovidedmedicalcaretothepoor.ThatwasthefirsttimeIsawwhatitmeanttobeadoctorwhocaredforothers.
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Fromthatmomenton,IknewwhatIwantedtodowithmylife.IwantedtobecomeadoctorliketheonesIsawattheclinic,someonewhocouldhelppeopleinneed.
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Mrs.Zhangcontinuedtosupportmethroughouthighschool,andIeventuallygotascholarshiptoattendcollege.Itwasadreamcometrue,butitwasalsoadauntingchallenge.Ihadneverbeenawayfromhomebefore,andIwasafraidoffailing.
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WhenIarrivedatcollege,Iwasoverwhelmedbythenewenvironment.TheclassesweremuchharderthananythingIhadencounteredbefore,andtheotherstudentsseemedsomuchsmarterthanme.
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Butonceagain,Mrs.Zhangcametomyrescue.Shesentmecarepackageswithhomemadefoodandencouragingnotes.Shecalledmeeveryweektocheckuponmeandtoofferwordsofwisdomandsupport.
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WithMrs.Zhang'shelp,Iperseveredthroughmystudies.Iworkedhardandmadethemostofeveryopportunitythatcamemyway.
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Aftercollege,Iappliedtomedicalschoolandwasaccepted.Itwasanotherhugestepforward,butitwasalsoanevenbiggerchallenge.Medicalschoolwasgrueling,anditrequiredlonghoursofstudyingandendlessamountsofmemorization.
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Onceagain,Mrs.Zhangwasthereforme.ShevisitedmeinpersonwhenevershecouldandtalkedtomeonthephonewheneverIneededher.Herunwaveringsupportgavemethestrengthtokeepgoing.
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Duringmyresidency,Iwasfacedwithevenmorechallenges.Thelonghoursandintensepressurewerestartingtotakeatollonme,butIknewthatIhadtokeepgoing.
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Onenight,afteraparticularlygruelingday,IreceivedaletterfromMrs.Zhang.Itwasabeautifulhandwrittenletterthattoldmehowproudshewasofmeandhowmuchshebelievedinme.
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AsIreadtheletter,tearsstreameddownmyface.IknewthatIhadsomeonewhobelievedinmeandwhowouldbethereformenomatterwhat.
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Thenextday,Iwentbacktothehospitalwithrenewedenergyanddetermination.Iwasgoingtobeadoctor,nomatterwhatittook.
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Yearspassed,andIbecameadoctorjustlikeIhadalwaysdreamed.Butmorethanthat,IbecameadoctorwhocaredforotherswiththesamecompassionandkindnessthatMrs.Zhanghadshownme.
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Oneday,IreceivedacallfromMrs.Zhang'sdaughter.Shetoldmethathermotherhadpassedawayfromcancer.
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Iwasdevastated.Mrs.Zhanghadbeenmorethanjustamentortome;shehadbeenasecondmother.
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Atherfuneral,Istoodupandgaveaeulogy.ItalkedabouthowMrs.ZhanghadchangedmylifeandhowshehadgivenmehopeandwarmthwhenIneededitmost.
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AsIlookedoutatthecrowdofmourners,IsawmanyfacesthatIrecognized.TheywereallpeoplewhoselivesMrs.Zhanghadtouchedinsomeway,whetherbytutoringthemafterschoolorbysimplybeingakindandcaringperson.
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Inthatmoment,IrealizedthatMrs.Zhang'slegacywasnotjustinthelivesofthepeopleshehaddirectlyhelped,butinthecountlessotherswhohadbeentouchedbyherkindnessandwarmth.Shehadtrulymadeadifferenceintheworld,andshewouldalwaysberememberedassomeonewhogavehopetothosewhoneededitmost.
