A
Manny Abreu practices Benjamin Franklin’s famous saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”
Throughout his four years at Kellenberg Memorial High School in the US, Abreu made community service an important part of his life.
“I don’t know where he finds the time to do everything,” said Erin Ronan, Abreu’s math teacher. “He’s truly a class act.”
As an honors student, Abreu, 18, took part in different voluntary activities after school, during weekends and summer holidays. These included helping staff at the public library, doing landscape work at Kellenberg, and serving customers at a local restaurant.
But faced with a limited number of hours in a day, Abreu left his library job last summer to start working as an emergency medical technician – a role that fits his passion for making a difference in other people’s lives.
“My appreciation for service has guided me into giving back,” said Abreu, who is setting his sights on becoming a doctor. “It’s such a rewarding feeling to help someone.”
During his three years at high school, Abreu devoted between 40 and 50 hours of his time each year to volunteer work – more than double the school’s annual requirement of 20 hours. For all his hard work, Abreu was welcomed into a leadership club that organizes fellow students’ volunteer activities.
St Martin de Porres Marianist School (Kellenberg’s sister school) also benefited from Abreu’s devotion. Through his school’s Smart Club program, he voluntarily provided homework help and played games with the junior high school students.
Abreu thanked his parents for inspiring him to do the right thing, saying they are “the most selfless people I know.” He remembered when he was about 6 years old, his mother invited a disadvantaged neighborhood boy to have dinner.
Upon observing the boy’s happiness, Abreu came away with a sense of how he wanted to live his own life – “I won’t focus on my own desires. I’ll help as many people as I can,” he said.
21. What did Erin Ronan really mean by his words in paragraph 3?
A. Abreu should focus his time on his study.
B. Abreu is a very excellent student.
C. Abreu often likes to show off in his class.
D. Abreu has lost interest in his study to make community service.
22. Why did Abreu work as a medical technician?
A. Because he loved being praised by other people.
B. Because he didn’t have time to do any other job.
C. Because he desired to improve the lives of others.
D. Because he hoped to try different types of jobs.
23. What did Abreu get from his hard work?
A. It gave him a sense of self-worth by helping others.
B. It made his family famous around the neighborhood.
C. It gave him a chance to attend medical school for free.
D. It made him a leader among his fellow school students.