(A) When Jack was a young man in his early twenties during the 1960s, he had tried to work in his father’s insurance business, as was expected of him. His two older brothers fit in easily and seemed to enjoy their work. But Jack was bored with the insurance industry. “It was worse than being bored,” he said. “I felt like I was dying inside.” Jack felt drawn to hair styling and dreamed of owning a hair shop with a lively environment. He was sure that (a) he would enjoy the creative and social aspects of it and that he’d be successful.
(B) Jack understood that his father feared adoption, in this case especially because the child was of a different racial background than their family. Jack and Michele risked rejection and went ahead with the adoption. It took years but eventually Jack’s father loved the little girl and accepted (b) his son’s independent choices. Jack realized that, although he often felt fear and still does, he has always had courage. In fact, courage was the scaffolding around which (c) he had built richness into his life.
* scaffolding: 발판
(C) When he was twentysix, Jack approached his father and expressed his intentions of leaving the business to become a hairstylist. As Jack anticipated, his father raged and accused Jack of being selfish, ungrateful, and unmanly. In the face of his father’s fury, Jack felt confusion and fear. His resolve became weak. But then a force filled (d) his chest and he stood firm in his decision. In following his path, Jack not only ran three flourishing hair shops, but also helped his clients experience their inner beauty by listening and encouraging them when they faced dark times.
(D) His love for his work led to donating time and talent at nursing homes, which in turn led to becoming a hospice volunteer, and eventually to starting fundraising efforts for the hospice program in his community. And all this laid a strong stepping stone for another courageous move in his life. When, after having two healthy children of their own, Jack and his wife, Michele, decided to bring an orphaned child into their family, (e) his father threatened to disown them.