What I Have Learned From My Years at University

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　　The development of an individual human existence can be divided into several important stages. But no period can be more influential upon the later course of our life than the years we have experienced in college. Here is the cradle of intelligentsia with vision, mission and passion. And now, as I am ready to leave campus and face the real world, I dare say that no other place can teach me more.

　　I am very proud that in university I have learnt how important it is for one to have vision, that ability to see ahead of time and possibly others. College has raised me up, so that I could enjoy a broader view of the world. University Library, the sanctuary of mind always keeps me in a close touch with the great thoughts of giants, Shakespeare, Russell, Churchill, Roosevelt, to name only a few. All these overwhelmingly famous names have turned familiar and friendly here. These great minds teach me how to live a meaningful life. They warn me that the last but greatest enemy for mankind is human existence itself. Their words of wisdom shall guide and guard me to overcome all the obstacles beset in the course of my life. In the light of this statement, I have to say that college years have brightened up my vision.

　　It is at university that I have acquired an added understanding of the meaning of mission i.e. man should have shoulders strong enough to take more responsibilities of the time. College has enriched me, so that I, to some extent, have discovered the truth to live by. When I was a sophomore, I was chosen a volunteer for the Red Cross Institution. My job, then, was to assist the doctor with the blood collecting in a blood donation car on the street. Those days bestowed me with a moving but a little bit singular picture, in which the painful injection and hearty smile are perfectly and beautifully combined. Every parcel of blood means a piece of hope, through which I see that the possession of life lies in sharing. This is how college years has defined my mission.

　　It is after some years at university that I have better apprehended Tonybee when he said, “Glory belongs to those who are actually in the arena, fighting passionately whilst showing every now and then mistakes or shortcomings.” I have understood the spirit of transcending myself, sometimes even in a crazy way. If youth is the freshness of the deep springs of life, then college must be the fountain of passion. It cheers in the chaos of gym; it hides in the silence of lab. During the college years, I never stopped pursuing my own dream, because I never fail to be inspired by the flowing current of young passion.

　　Lawrence H. Summers, former President of Harvard said in his farewell speech, “College graduates, capable of deep reflections are what the world needs.” Living in a world of madding crowd, a group, or even a small group of people are expected to remain transcendental and sober. If any can live up to so high a standard of existence, college graduates can. And I am fortunate in being among them at this moment and having spared little time cultivating my vision, mission and passion in the past four years. With these, I have better courage to change myself and most probably better preparation for my future.

　　吴中东教授评语：这是一篇上乘的专八满分作文。从结构到用词均有较好的设计。开篇是经典的“general-focus-survey”方法，自然流畅、错落有致、四平八稳。中间三个推展段均有各自的特点，表现出多样性和丰富性。第1段列举了四位名人的思想对本人的影响；第2段讲了自己在大二期间做志愿者的经历，真实感人，证明mission的重要性；第3段引用了历史学家汤恩比（Tonybee）的名段讲了passion（激情）对人生的影响；最后一段，再引哈佛大学前任校长Summers（现任奥巴马内阁成员）的演讲进一步深化了主题。当然，此文如果在遣词造句方面再下一定功夫，就会更加完美！