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Even when she was a young child, Malia Hee began breaking boundaries. The young champion discovered fencing（击剑） through her sister, who is also a fencer. Malia, who is now a student at Temple University in Pennsylvania, took up the sport at the age of 6.
When Malia was growing up in Vancouver, Washington, she balanced other sports with fencing.“But I saw my potential in fencing,” she said.
Malia has already won five national titles. In 2014, when she was 16, she qualified for the Junior Olympics. A year later, she won the national champion for the juniors.
While talking about her greatest victories, Malia recalled her very first tournament. She competed against just one boy—and placed second.“But I was really happy just to win a medal, even though there were just two of us,” she said.
Malia fenced throughout high school. Her skills earned her scholarships to several colleges.“I was approached by Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Harvard, Columbia, Duck, and Temple,” she said.“The reason I chose Temple was that I am a very artsy person, and out of all the programs I was offered, Temp had the most competitive arts program.”
Malia is now majoring in graphic design and advertising at Temple. Between academics and fencing, she is doing very well. This past year, she won the Elite 90 Award in the National College Athletic Association Division Ⅰ Women's Fencing Championship. The award is given to athletes who have reached the highest point in national competition in their own sport, as well as the highest academic level among their peers.
“Moving forward, I'm not going to take fencing as seriously,” she said. After college, she hopes to work in the sports industry as a graphic designer or marketer. She wants to live near a fencing club, where she can compete with fun.
Wherever her career takes her, Malia will always be remembered as an individual who broke boundaries.
1. What can we learn about Malia's first tournament?
A. She narrowly won the game.
B. She was encouraged by the medal.
C. She beat the boy in the second round.
D. She was happy to share the medal with a boy.
2. Why did Malia choose Temple University?
A. It gave her an attractive scholarship.
B. It allowed her to go on with her fencing training.
C. It offered her the most competitive fencing program.
D. It provided better arts program than other universities.
3. What will Malia probably do after college?
A. Go for further study in sports industry. B. Compete for more champions in fencing.
C. Design posters for marketing campaigns. D. Be a professional coach in a fencing club.
4. What can we learn from Malia's story?
A. Hard work pays off.
B. The earlier, the better.
C. All roads lead to Rome.
D. More breakthroughs, more achievements.
