The Achievement of Desire (Thanh Tran-Terry)

The author told the story about his own life. He achieved many things in academy but it also took a lot of things from him. He spent so much time studying and when he grew up he realized he missed something in his childhood. He was serious at reading book he did not care about anything. He looked down on his parents’ low education. It really alienated him from his parents because he thought he was not the same with them. He became quiet person and just focus on studying what he liked, he left home by himself for college. From his story, I realize that nowadays many parents encourage their children to study as much as possible. I do not understand how it could be if a child just know to due with theory and he or she does not know how to apply what they study into the real society. I think about my childhood. My mother often encouraged me to study but never put any pressure on me. I was a good student but I was always to try to feel free and took part in as many activities as I could. It is the truth that education is very important but what we get it in positive way is much more significant. I always try to study because I want to help my mother, I admire her. I never look down on my mother when she speaks English although she has no good pronunciation. Education gives us a lot of things but it also takes many things from us. I hope each student can find the true meaning of studying when they read this article.

What will we do? Susan Chen

Since in elementary school, we were told that we should try our best to help those people who are in trouble almost every day. "To help others is to help ourselves." The teacher always said like that. Although we all know that it is what we so called a kind of moral, it is significant. Just like the young man in the article, when others got into trouble, he immediately made a decision to jump into the water to save others. He was a hero and no wonder he got a better reward.
However, when the similar things happen to us, what will we do? To tell the truth, maybe I will just call the 911 because I cannot swim. Even though I can, probably I will do the same decision. I do not want to take myself into trouble. I know it is a little selfish. But this kind of action is just what many people will take. Before we are ready to help others, we should think that whether we have the ability to help.
The yong man in the article had got what he should obtain. He is not only a hero, but also an example that we should learn from.

From Ragged Dick (Young Ho Yoon)

This story is about a young boy named Richard Hunter, also known as Ragged Dick, as he progresses his childhood. Dick struggles through the hardships of city life and trying to achieve the “American Dream”.
As a child, Dick is nothing more than a poor city boy who is trying to earn money on the streets of New York City. Although he works and struggles to remain an honest, hardworking boy, he is also faced with troubles. Through Dick’s shoe-shining work, he tends to meet lots of people. Each day is another learning experience for Dick. There are many times when Dick’s integrity and honesty are tested, but he never cheats anyone.
As time goes by, Dick eventually meets a boy named Frank, who is of a wealthy family, but is not at all familiar with New York City. Dick makes an intelligent proposal which is he offers to show Frank all around the city, and take him to all the famous places. Frank accepts his proposal and in exchange, his uncle buys a new suit for Dick and helps him clean himself up. This was the real turning point in Richard Hunter’s life because Frank’s family was able to help Dick. They did this by providing shelter and importantly to keep friendship.
From this point, Richard Hunter was no longer on the streets, and was determined to never look back. He was able to get a job, earn more money, and eventually succeed in achieving his dreams.
While reading the article, I really was able to put myself in the story, and live Dick’s life with him. Today, many people’s dream is to achieve success and this formally became known as “The American Dream”. Every person’s perception of success is extremely different and individual, that makes everyone’s dreams different. Maybe there are people who strive for big goals, and maybe there are others who want to take achieving happiness one day at a time.
I think that the word “success” alone can be thought to have a completely different meaning today than it did in the time of story. I think that in today’s world, people tend to set much higher goals and expectations for themselves, whereas, in Ragged Dick.
I think achieving success and happiness, it should be each to our own. When people set more realistic goals, it results in more happiness and comfort in their lifestyle. However, in today’s world, Americans have become so incredibly competitive and successful, that the standards have been significantly raised to the point where personal happiness is no longer good enough. I think that after reading a story like Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick, we subconsciously make ourselves to realize the important underlying message that he is trying to portray. To me, this message gave me optimistic thinking and no matter how bad our life is. It can always get better if we are honest, hardworking and determined.

The persone we need (Mingyu Hu)

In the article show us a story that is a man saved child’s life, after that, his refused to accept the money which from the survivor’s father even though he is very poor.
Help people without any purpose that is real kind. The man is really poor, he can get a good job to change his life after he survived boy, but he refused, because he survived boy not to get money. He is very poor, in fact he can get a good job after he survived that boy, but he refused. He helps the people not for to get any purpose form it, just because the people need help.
I think that a real person we should learn who help other person without any purpose.

Ragged Dick (Yiling Feng)

In this story, the protagonist whose name is Dick, he is a virtuous people. When he found a child fell into water, he was regardless of danger to save the child immediately. At that time, although there were some passengers also standing forward, they did not do anything. Finally, Dick saved the child successfully, and child’s father wanted to give him ten thousand dollars in order to reward, but Dick did not accept. However, he was a poor man; he needed to work hard everyday. At last, the child’s father gave him a new job. Dick liked this job, so he accepted it in final. He was a virtuous person. He saved child’s life which was not for reward. It started from his instinct. People do anything which cannot always want to reward. If more people like Dick who asks no odds of doing anything, then, then, we will find more sincerity in our world.

Grab the chance(Yi Feng Wang)

After reading Ragged Dick's article, I thought about myself. I am a college student now, my tuition is paid by my parents, and it is a big amount of cost. If I go to work during this economy crisis, I can't afford to go to college by my own effort. Because the employment rate is very high, many people who have more experience than me can't even get a proper job. But chances still exist, after I graduate from college, can I grab the chance? Maybe I can't come across a boy who are drown in water, but chances are still waiting for me. What I should do now is study hard, and get a higher degree, at first it is a advantage for hunting jobs. I concern about myself and at sametime I have confidence that I can do my best. Just like the man in the article, he grabbed the chance, and get a good job.

DICK'S STORY ( YANQIONG.LI)

This story was talking about Dick’s story which is to save a child’s life.
One day, there was a child fell into the river, his father so scared that he could not do anything, he just stayed there and exclaimed in anguish. A few passengers are walk on board at the time and most of them standing forward. At that moment, Dick fell into the river without any thinking; he just did his best to save the child. Finally, Dick became a hero in people’s heart and he also got more chances to earn more money in his life.
From this story we can know that, just try your best to help people who needs help. Do not lose any chances; catch it as soon as you can and without thinking any returns. You will get more opportunities which are made you surprise.

After reading the article Ragged Dick--- Kai-Hsun Yu

After reading the article I can say Dick is a good person, in todays world this kind of people is getting less and less. Dick help people without anything. I think because he thinks people are equal. Why Dick want to save that boy?? Because he is good at it? No because he is very very kind, and he thinks he has to save that boy. That is what my common after reading the article, and i hope this kind of people can get more and more in todays world!!!

Ragged Dick( Ting Shu)

Ragged Dick

Dick is a hero in people's mind, he did not think anything about himself before he jumped into the water and saved the little boy.
During the summer time, many kids lost their life in the water because they never though how danger is river is for them. and somebody also lost his or her life because he or she was trying to save those kids who got trouble in the water. They might know about water and good at swimming, but might be not lucky as Dick. The row-boat came on the time, then saved both of Dick and the little boy. If you are in a place where is difficult to get a row-boat and professional saver around you. Then make sure you would be safe if you are going to save someone else. it might lose two life if you could make sure your-self's safety. Dick is a hero in my mind also, he saved a little boy who doesn't have any relationship with him. He has a warm heart, but I think he shouldn't jump into the water before he knows that the row-boat is coming to him. What if the row-boat didn't get him in the water on time? He would lose his life, and the little boy's family might have to carry a bag about him forever.

The fate changed by chances and efforts(JIANJIE.ZHAO)

When I am writing this blog, most of us may envy some who born with gold spoon. For those people who have a rich family, they may own more opportunities and properties than us. However, Life without privileges obliged us to struggle rather than to rest. In this way, we are improving ourselves after each experience. Therefore, even though we can’t choose where we born, but we can change who we are and trust what we believe.
We like to complain that the chances abandon us. In the story of Ragged Dick, the opportunity approached Dick, when the moment that he decided to save a stranger’s life. Then he alter his life from ragged to “fame and fortune.” So the chances are surrounding us every moment, but they flash their brilliant colors only when we put efforts on your own and others.
Last, don’t let your past slip away. When we get succeed, they first we might do is to enjoy our life. However, dangers hide behind peace. Just as dick did, keep his box and brush that remind him the moment: when he was ignorant boot-black. So when we catch our chances, don’t forget our past.
Therefore, every time when we complain, just remember put efforts on our life. We don’t know what will happens to next, may be a new chance?

To give is to ask nothing to return. (Fang-yu LIN)

As I read this article, I deeply admire this person whose name is Dick. As we know from the article, he was a poor and did a low-paid job for living. One day, he was preparing to interview, he saw a boy who fell into the river. When the boy’s father was still scramming and looking his children with crying, he jumped into water without thinking anything to rescue the little boy. When the boy’s father got his lovely boy, he wanted to present how appreciate to Dick; however, Dick refused modestly. Dick considered that he is good at swimming, so he has no reason not to rescue this little boy. Nevertheless, in nowadays society, how many people have this same thought like Dick? The answer is not so many, because almost people do not want to do something without getting repaid. Therefore, I got an experience about one of my friends, he did not know to speak in that time, but he needed to go to hospital to do a treatment. In that period of time, I always went to hospital with him or did the therapy, sometimes it took whole day for us. Some people might say why I should help him, he is not my boyfriend or family, but I think that I might go to abroad someday, and I also I can meet some people can help me without asking any repaid! Hence, after reading this article, I feel really warm and let me think about the experience.

We need the salt of the earth (Boning Zhang)

We all live in this beautiful world, but there aren’t so many people to be the salt of the earth. The ragged man whose name is Dick, is the person who put his effort in order to help others, he thinks the happiness lies in giving help to others. When he jump into the water to save others life, he didn’t care about anything, at that moment, the only things he wants to do is to help people. What will we do when we see a person fall into the water and almost be drowned. I think I will call 911 and wait them to save his life, because I am afraid if I try to save the drowned person, I will also get in trouble, I don’t want to run the risk. However, Dick did that without doubt.
Dick can give up the chance to get the higher salary in order to help more people who need him. I can’t help admiring him. He sacrifice a part of his life to help the people who need him; to change the others life who got his help. We need people like him, His nobility of character made her much remembered and inspired the rest of us to greater efforts. Try to be a person like him. Try to make the better world.

"From Rugged Dick" (Alona Prokofjeva)

This story makes us to think about what people exactly are around us. Dick's character is very positive, hi is really good person and he is not selfish, actually, he is purposeful person.
Dick is not looking for easy ways; perhaps he thinks that the harder way is so great and easy to win. He is seeks new opportunities every day.
Dick is very reliable person and he never fails to help who really need his help. “What goes around comes around”. When you helping people and doing well to the fate of your award for this, as the example that Dick helped a stranger boy just for free, I think that, he is really lucky man and people must to learn this lesson, as a life experience for everyone.
I think he did the right thing that jumped into the water and rescued the boy, by doing this, so he risked his life for another life. This is very generous act. He is worthy of respect. This man must set an example for many people. I hope that it will be a really good example for everyone.

Follow your heart (Yanjun Li)

How to do something makes you are very struggle? I know this answer when I finish reading this article.
This article tells us a story about a brave boy Dick. Dick is a great ordinary man, but he has a warm heart. One day, Dick saved a little boy who fell into foaming water. He didn’t thought about his behave maybe let himself lose life or bring a good luck for him. He just wants to save a person who fell into water. And then the farther of the boy be saved give Dick a good job which is better than before. This is a great chance for Dick but he didn’t accept it at last. He thought that maybe this job isn’t fit him. It’s should give to anther people who fit more than him.
Maybe Some people think how lucky Dick is, and another people think how stupid Dick is. But I think Dick is brave, honest and very kind. It’s not every people met this situation will have the brave to save the boy include me. And not every people have the kinds of brave to give up the good chance to make them life better. But Dick did it. So I think Dick is so brave. He has their own definition about good life which is everything follow your heart no mater it will bring what things about you. Make ourselves heart is comfortable is very important in the whole life.

Turning Point.

As Mr. Ragged Dick had a chance which made his life to enter the different world, we also may get a chance for our better life.

However, this chance does not come for free, which means, we always need to train ourslves in order to grab that chance.

Mr. Dick had trained himself to be an expert swimmer for several years, therfore we also need to find some things we want to learn.

Since we are students who came from the other country, we are being minority groups as we live here, United States of America.

The major reason we decided to be here is to study.

So, we should push ourslelves to the limit during our school year, which is our big opportunity for our better future.

I hope everyone in our class will have an accomplishment as Mr. Dick had some day.

From ragged Dick(SUHYUN HUH)

The man who is Dick. He was working at accounting room. He earned enough in half a day to pay all his nesessary expenses.Obviously he earns money not a lot but he is satisfied his life.
One day, he was sent by his employer on an errand to Brooklyn. He had to go there an ferry boat.
A young boy fell into a river.His father was freaked out and screming "who will save my child? A thousand ten thouand dollars to anyone who whll save him. Dick jumped in to the river to try to rescue of a young boy and he did not hear it all what his father said.
After Dick rescued young boy, his father gave a new cloths to Dick for saving his son.

One day, Dick found a new job and he saw young boy's father that dick rescued the young boy last time. His name is Mr.Rockwell. He gave a new job to Dick. Dick could earn more than before but he decided to help less his fortunate friend.

This stoy shows me a lot of things that i have to learn. First time when i read this story, i did not understand what Dick is doing. This story shows that People should live like the Dick but, if we live like that, we would not live sucessful life. If you have good opportunities, you have to get it in this sociaty.

The little hero, Dick(Lian Chen)

The article mentions the boy’s father found that his child fell into the river, and then he could not swim to save his child on the boat. And he loudly to say” who will save my child? And ten thousand dollars to anyone who will save him!” Few passengers just standing forward and did not do anything to help. But on that time, a child jumped into the river to save the little boy. Before, the child’s father said he offered the money that someone could save his child. Dick already was jumping into the river to help the little boy. Dick was not in order to the money; he just wanted to help somebody that he could help. After, the hero got a better job that was the child’s father to give him. At first, he did not think that he could get that kind of chance. Dick was so lucky because he was good at swimming. And besides, he was so brave to help someone that he did not know him.

In this article, I wonder to become a person like the little hero. His good behavior is the example that we can learn from him. We do not mind something that we will gain, we just keep friendly mood to help people.

Own a warm heart (Xiaojie Pang)

A ragged person who named Dick. He is a great ordinary person, but he has a warm heart. One day, he rescued a little boy who fell into the water. And then the boy’s father gave Dick a new job which is better than Dick has at that time. That is a amazing chance for Dick. He just did something he wants to do. However, he didn’t accep that job at last. He thought that the job should leave to other people who need it more than him. I think there is a few people can do it looks like Dick in the world. He was not only straight away to help the boy, but also he needn’t any repay.
Actually, I believe when people just born, everyone has a wam heart. It put me in mind of my friend who named Yuki. Yuki was a kind girl who always smiles at everything. She hopes to do her best to help everyone who need help. Yuki told me when she helps someone, she feels she is the happiest person. She never asks any repay. I am really appreciate the person who looks like Dick and Yuki. If everyone own a warm heart, the world will become harmony and warmth.

Give and Take (Yalin Hsiao)

This story talks about Dick's life. Dick was a very poor boy,but who has really warm heart.He knows what he needs to do and have his own goal.Even he was not a rich boy,always trying his best to achieve something. Oneday, Dick saw a little boy who fall into a river and jump into the river to rescue the boy. Dick was a really brave man, he save the little boy without thinking about his own risk, even though they are a lot of people were standing nearby river, was unmoved. I imagined the situation after reading this article. If i were there, I even do not think i can jump into the water to save the little boy. A littele boy's father is a wealthy man, and try to give Dick money and offer a better job to him. Although this was really good opportunity, He rejected the offer. He think the job should be give to people who need it more than him.After reading this story, Some people might think that Dick was really lucky so that is why he gained some reward from a rich man.However, i personally do not think so. I think Dick deserve it. because he just run into the water to save the boy, even he didnt accept the reward.He thinks about the other people more than himself.I think this is what is called "Give and Take." If you give a hand to someone, someone will also give u a hand when u need it oneday.

Being charitable and just(Chung-Chih Chi)

There was an old phase said” Your charity would be rewarded”, which means when you do something good without any purpose, you will get paid in one day. This phase totally appears in the story. Dick was a poor guy and he had to work hard every day, in order to earn three dollars for his living. One day, he saw a boy who fell into a river and no one went to save him. He immediately went into the river without thinking and helped him out. He knew if he didn’t do anything, the boy would be drowned. Later on, his wage got increased and he never thought about it before. Because of his sense of justice and charity, his wage got increased by accident and his live got better and people were proud of him.
The story reminds my experience of doing good things. When I was in elementary school, the teachers always told us to do a good thing or to help someone out every day. Sometimes, when I helped people out, they would reward something back. Most importantly, people are living in the world which people need to help others out. So, people should help each others.