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真想不到，一轉眼我已經在育良小學及培德中學讀了十二年的書。剛來到美國時，我還只是一個四歲的幼稚園兒童。現在，自己已成為一個十六歲的畢業班學生。雖然我在培德中學讀了那麼多年，也沒有真正的去考慮這所學校有多獨特。當然，我曉得培德中學是美國唯一的佛教高中學校，學生們除了佛學、打坐課外，還需要去上供、結齋。可是，除了這些以外，我並沒有覺得這學校很突出。
過了不久，我感覺到培德中學是很不同的。在美國，有多少學生可以在六年級時開始學代數，或七年級準備考 SAT？我想，這應該只有我們學校能做得到。在這兒，培德中學學生不需要跟從一個死死板板的課程──學生可以很自由的去學更多、更難的科目。在公立學校，這是不可能的。
在培德中學，我們不但學習數學、歷史、英文、中文等學科，學生們也學了要勤勞做工。因為，我們不是整天都把自己關在房間裡讀書！所以，培德中學學生每個星期必須去掃地、拖地板、洗廁所等。
我們學校的名字是培德中學，所以每一個學生一定要做個好人，否則自己怎麼可以算是一個「培德」的學生呢﹖大家對我們培德學生期望很高，我們不能讓他們失望。記得有一次跟參加全美中國文化常識比賽的同學下舊金山時，見到了其他中文學校的老師。他們很興奮的說：「你們培德學生是最有禮貌的！」
從二○○三年到現在，我很幸運有機會在佛殿學習翻譯宣公上人的《妙法蓮華經》淺釋。這幾年來，我從《妙法蓮華經》及上人的淺釋學了很多佛法的道理，同時也加強了自己的翻譯能力。我覺得翻譯的工作是很不可思議的一件事情，所以申請大學時，直覺地就把我從事這項任務的經驗寫出來。我想：不會有太多作文的題目跟我的一樣吧！當然，如果沒有老師們的恩惠，也不會有這麼微妙的學習機會。
二○○六年十月，我去了東岸的威立恩大學，很幸運的見到了大學的入學指導教授。他一聽到我是來自一個小小的佛教中學時，就很有興趣，開始問我很多問題。你的學校在哪裡？有多少學生？課程是怎麼樣？我想，很多大學都對從培德中學來的學生非常感興趣，因為這所學校是獨一無二的。
最近，我在瑜伽市的圖書館做義工時，遇見了一位瑜伽市的市議員。她一聽見我進了普林斯頓大學之後，就說：「恭喜！你一定是從那個佛教中學來的！」可見我們學校的名聲還真響亮﹗
在培德中學的十二年都是令我終身難忘的故事，我希望以後的學生也會有很好的經驗。
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Time passes quickly, and it’s hard to believe that I have already attended Instilling Goodness Elementary and Developing Virtue Secondary School for twelve years. I was only a clueless kindergartener when I first came to the United States, but I am now a sixteen-year-old graduating senior. In fact, I’ve been here so long that I never really thought much of the school’s uniqueness. Sure, Developing Virtue School (DVS) is the only Buddhist high school in the country, and we also have to take meditation and Buddhist studies classes and go to ceremonies, but I thought that was about it.
I soon realized our school was different, and in many ways as well. Where else can one find a school that allows sixth graders to take Algebra, and seventh graders to take the SAT? It’s amazing what students can do when they aren’t limited by a static curriculum. This kind of freedom can’t be found in public schools!
Here at DVS, not only do we study academic subjects such as math, history, English and Chinese, but we also learn to improve ourselves mentally and physically. After all, there’s more to education than locking oneself up in a classroom and sticking your nose in a book. That’s why we do community service in the school every week – sweeping the floor, mopping the tiles, dusting off cobwebs, vacuuming carpets, and cleaning rest rooms.
Having “Developing Virtue” in the name of the school truly inspires and behooves students to be better people – otherwise, how can we be considered students who are “developing virtue”? Everyone has high expectations for DVS students, and we can’t let them down. I once accompanied fellow students to the National Chinese Culture Competition in San Francisco, and the Chinese teachers from the other schools exclaimed: “You Developing Virtue students are the most well-behaved!”
Since 2003, I have been very fortunate to be able to involve in translating the Venerable Master’s commentary on the Dharma Flower Sutra at the lecture time in the Buddha Hall. Through this, I was able to learn many principles and teachings of the Buddhadharma, and fortify my translation abilities at the same time. It’s an amazing honor to help translate the sutras and I therefore wrote about it in an essay when I applied to college. There shouldn’t be too many essays on that same topic! Without the kindness of my teachers, I would never have such a wonderful opportunity to help translate.
In October of 2006, I traveled to the East Coast to visit Williams College. Incredibly, I bumped into Williams’ director of admissions while getting some bagels for breakfast. He was very interested when I told him that I came from a small Buddhist high school, and began asking me many questions. “Where is your school located? How many students attend?” I think that many colleges will be interested in students from DVS, because our school is very unique and special.
While I was doing volunteer work in the Ukiah public library recently, I met a member of the Ukiah City Council who is the current mayor of Ukiah. “Congratulations!” she said upon hearing that I had been accepted to Princeton University. “You must go to the Buddhist school!” Apparently, our school’s reputation is quite good!
My time at DVS has been an unforgettable twelve years – I hope other students will have a similar experience!
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