A Post-it Note with the Word "Carefree" on It
Yu-Chuan Shih 2012-03-01
When I was little, I had problem sitting straight when listening to Shifu's teaching. I would always doze off after listening to his teaching for a while. Therefore, it seemed to me that I didn't remember anything he had said. I remembered vividly only one occasion where Shifu told us to stand up and do some stretching exercise, and he said, "Carefree!'' while we were stretching. I found the word so interesting that it was engraved in my mind. Unexpectedly, the word has made a profound impact on my studying.
As I entered fifth grade, I had a heavier study load and became even more concerned about my test scores. One time I started to prepare for a test two weeks in advance, but my score on that test turned out to be poor because I grew very tired on the test day after being so tense for such a long period of time. This setback made me feel frustrated and helpless. However, the moment I saw the post-in note on my desk with the word "carefree" on it, I thought of Shifu's carefree demeanor and his ability to let bygones be bygones. I thought, "That's what I need to learn." Therefore, I started to adjust my moods and my attitude toward tests. I began to use a more carefree manner to face tests. I study hard but stop worrying about test results. This has made me worry less and become more carefree.
My Shifu's words of wisdom and his way of handling things transformed me. From then on, I have listened attentively to Shifu's teaching in order to learn more wisdom of life because I know that every word of his is important. His words can change a person's life as long as that person listens with his heart and puts them into practice. I am thankful to Shifu for teaching me a valuable lesson, and applying it into my life has allowed me to take a huge step forward.
