深圳外国语学校高一（1）班 袁天韵

As a modern teenager, I am always on the lookout for what is trendy. I am particularly interested in information technology. Consequently, Mark Zuckerberg, the chairman and CEO of Facebook, the world’s largest social network, is my idol.

Zuckerberg started writing software programs for pleasure when he was in middle school. He created a program which was the rudiment of Facebook in his dormitory room when he was a sophomore at Harvard University.

In its early years, Facebook grew extraordinarily quickly. In 2008, Zuckerberg was named the wealthiest single young man by Forbes, and in 2010 he was listed among the 100 wealthiest and most influential people in the world. On May 18, Facebook was listed on NASDAQ, New York, and broke the record for first-day transaction volume.

At first, I idolized Zuckerberg. He is a living symbol of the American Dream. Later, I learned more personal information that humanized him and, if anything, made my admiration grow stronger.

Despite becoming a celebrity who is often chased by paparazzi, his personal life is almost the same as it was before he made a fortune.

According to local real-estate agents, Zuckerberg’s house is still modestly sized compared to those of other business magnates. He wears sporty and casual clothes. He even wore a hoodie to attend an investors meeting, which some said was “immature” and “disrespectful.”

According to an online survey done by PeekScore, Zuckerberg is the most charitable entrepreneur in the high-tech industry along with Bill Gates, former CEO of Microsoft. In 2010, the then 26-year-old Zuckerberg promised to donate half of his wealth, which was then around US$6.9 billion.

Talented, easy-going, generous, passionate, and unchanged by fame and fortune, this is Mark Zuckerberg, the face of Facebook. He will no doubt continue to inspire me.