颶風來時，我們鎮定自若

Well today it happened…
好吧這是今天發生的事情
A day we never want to happen,
我們從不曾希望會有這樣一天
but continually prepare for
但卻一直做着準備
throughout the school year.
貫穿這一整個學年
We had a tornado touch down near the school,
颶風在學校附近登陸了
and as expected,
應驗了我們的預期
went into our emergency tornado procedures.
我們開始按照預演的應災步驟進行
I wasn’t even in the classroom when it happened.
一切發生時，我甚至並不在教室裏
I had taken a student with me
那時我帶着一個學生
to the workroom
兩人一起去了儲備室
to help gather items for a project.
一起去拿教學需要的教具
When the sirens starting wailing
警報響起的時候
I immediately grabbed my student’s hand
我立刻抓住學生的手
and ran as fast as I could
用最快的速度
back to the classroom.
跑回了教室
Never did I imagine
我從不曾想到過
needing to put our tornado drills to use.
應對颶風的程序會真的派上用場
I never imagined
我從未想過
actually needing to line my students up on the wall,
我真的會讓學生們在牆邊排隊站好
have them crouch down
讓他們全部下蹲
with their knees and heads touching the ground,
膝蓋和頭觸着地面
hands on the backs of their heads.
手放在他們的後腦勺上
Their hearts beating so fast
他們的心慌跳得那麼快
(and mine, if we are honest)
（老實說，我的也是）
they couldn’t catch their breath,
他們不能呼吸
or the fear filled eyes
他們眼中寫滿了恐懼
looking up at me
擡頭看着我
as they ask if
問我
their mommies, daddies,
他們的爸爸媽媽
maw maws, and friends
爺爺奶奶，還有朋友們
were going to be okay.
會不會安然無恙
Never did I imagine
我從未想過
the eery silence that would come over the whole school,
寂靜籠罩整個校園
with hundreds of students lined up against the walls of one building.
成百上千的學生聚集在同一幢教學樓裏，靠牆而立
Never did I imagine
我從未想過
the way I would feel,
自己會是這樣的心情
and other teachers along with me,
其他老師也和我一起
as we tried our best to comfort our students,
我們盡全力安撫我們的學生
assure them of their safety,
讓他們相信他們是安全的
and promise them everything would be alright;
承諾一切都會沒事
when we truly didn’t know
其實我們自己也不知道
what the outcome would be.
事情最後的結果會是什麼樣
Today has taken a toll on me,
今天的災難讓我深受其害
as I am sure
我相信
it has on the hundreds and thousands of teachers
其他成百上千的老師
in the local areas and surrounding areas.
在本地和臨近地區的他們亦是如此
But at the same time,
但與此同時
I am beyond proud,
我又感到無比的驕傲
surprised,
驚喜
and elated
且歡欣鼓舞
at how my students handled themselves today.
因爲我的學生們今天的表現太棒了
In the midst of a very scary, emotional , and dangerous situation,
期間在十分恐怖，危險，讓人心驚膽戰的情況下
my students handled themselves
我的學生們都能鎮定自若
with the attitudes and mindset of children much older than them.
態度和心境都像是比他們年長許多的孩子
Never in my life
這一生中
have I seen my students follow directions
我都沒見過學生們這樣好的服從指令
so quickly, precisely,
迅速，準確
and without hesitation.
毫不猶豫
Even though some tears were shed,
雖然我們都流下了眼淚
and some hearts were beating fast,
雖然我們都心跳如鼓
my students were brave.
我的學生們卻十分勇敢
They had such an unshaking trust in my assistant
他們對我的指導存有不可動搖的信任
and myself
對我本人亦是如此
that they were able to be 100% calm
所以他們才能100%鎮定
and collected the entire time.
一直十分鎮定
They were brave beyond their years today
這一天他們表現出了超出年齡的勇敢
and for that,
爲此
I am eternally grateful.
我莫大的感恩
Tomorrow will bring a new set of challenges;
明天還會有許多新的挑戰
and will be a day used to encourage,
這一天我仍會鼓勵
instill ,
訓導學生們
and prepare the students
讓他們做好準備
for the next time this might happen.
以防下一次再有這樣的事情發生
Right now,
此刻
I look back on the day
我審視着這一天
thankful for everyones safety, courage, and bravery.
爲每個人的安然無恙，爲他們的勇氣和淡定而心存感恩
But also heartbroken
同時又感到心碎
at the thought of
想到
millions of students,
數以百萬的學子
all over the country,
範圍覆蓋全國
having the same scenarios play-out at their schools.
都在他們的校園裏經歷着同樣的事情
The fear I saw in my students eyes,
我在我的學生們眼中看到的恐懼
I imagine
我想
in the eyes of every student out there.
一定也會出現在其他學校的每個學生眼中
I can only wish for those students,
我只能爲那些學生祝福
their parents,
爲他們的家長
and especially their teachers.
尤其他們的老師祝福
For behind every great, brave,
因爲，在每一個優秀，勇敢
and courageous student,
鎮定的學生背後
is a long line of individuals
都有許多成年人
who have made it their life’s goal
立下了一生的志願
to empower, train, and teach them.
要訓練，教導他們，給他們力量