Do you know an outstanding junior high or high school teacher, coach, guidance counselor, librarian, or headmaster? Nominate (提名) that special teacher you’ll always remember and give him/her the chance to be recognized in a famous national magazine through “Educators of the Year Contest”!

Prizes

Cash awards will be given to those from across the country who are given the honor of Educators of the Year. Besides, your winning essays will also be published in our magazine.

Guidelines

We will only consider essays written by teens, and nominations must be for junior high or high school educators only. Elementary school educators are not suitable.

Convince us your educator is special. Tell us about his or her style of teaching, his or her role in school activities, and community service. What has your educator done for the entire school, your class, for you or another student? Give examples with specific details. Keep your essay between 200 and 1,000 words. Remember to include the first and last name, position, and school of your educator in your essay.

Don’t forget to submit (提交) your essays through our website. You can also read our submission guidelines for more information on this website.

The Deadline

The deadline for submitting your essays is December 30. Your essays are accepted and will appear in our magazine all over the year. Winners will be made public after the January issue is published.

This is a true story. Tristin Saghin enjoyed the movie Black Hawk Down very much, which is about the conflict in Somalia. The battle scenes and the exciting rescues of people who are dying, interested him greatly.

There was just one problem: Tristin was only 9 years old, and it was thought that movie was not for children. When his parents caught him watching it on TV, they made him turn it off, though he had finished his homework and it was not late. Then one day, Tristin and his family were visiting his grandmother in Mesa, Arizona. Tristin’s 20-year-old sister got out of the house and fell in the backyard pool. Realizing the little girl was missing, the family ran outside, only to find the girl had fallen into the water.

Pulled from the pool and placed on the ground, the child wasn’t breathing. The family called the ambulance (救护车), but no one knew how to do first aid. No one, that is, except for Tristin. A scene in Black Hawk Down describes a doctor giving first aid. Tristin remembered it. Then the 9-year-old gave first aid to his sister at once and saved her life.

His parents don’t stop him seeing the movies he likes any more. Tristin taught himself how to do first aid but he had never thought he could use it to save his little sister’s life. Any skill can be used in time, so you should always learn.

My friends and I had just finished lunch at a hotel when it started to rain heavily. When it became lighter, I decided to get my car which was parked at my office three streets away.

My friends argued that I shouldn’t go, mainly because I was seven months pregnant（怀孕的）then. I made it clear to them that I’d be very careful. One of them wanted to come with me but I insisted that she stayed with another friend who needed help with her baby.

I walked out of the hotel and started making my way to the car. At the crossing, a van stopped and a man came out with an umbrella. Before I knew what was happening’ walked right beside me and told me he’d escort（护送）me to my destination. Although I was very embarrassed and refused, he insisted that he would.

During our walk, he kept telling me to walk slower, as the ground was wet. When we got to the car-park, I thanked him and he went away. I did not get his name and may not even recognize him now. Did he purposely stop for me? I’ll never know.

So how did I pay it back? I was at home when I noticed two Indian construction workers walking in the heavy rain. They were probably on their way to the working place near my home. I went out and passed them an umbrella. They were completely surprised by my action, and I told them they should take and keep it. They were very grateful to me, probably wondered why a stranger was offering such kindness. I was so relaxed and happy that day.