I used to abandon myself to despair. Last year my mother 1 from astroke (中风) and had anoperation on her brain. I felt my whole world turn upside down and I had no 2what I could do to help her to relieve her 3. Tears welled up in my eyes whenever I was alone.

      Last month I 4 a precious watch,which was an 18­-year-­old birthday gift from my father. I could not fall asleep for a couple of nights because I felt 5about the loss.

There have been many 6 like thesein my life. I could never figure out how to deal with such tough things 7I read "If You Have a Lemon, Make a Lemonade" by American writer Dale Carnegie.

"When the wise man is handed a lemon, he says,‘What 8can I get from this? How can I 9my situation?How can I turn this lemon into a lemonade？'"he wrote.

       I suddenly 10 that life is full ofups and downs, so I need to stay11 all the time. Now when I think of my past, I wish I could have handled things12. When my motherwas fighting for 13 ， I should have held her hands in mine, telling her things would get betterinstead of 14and crying.

       Several weeks ago, I took part in a campus singing competition. I didn't 15 a prize. If I had not 16this article, I would definitely have felt17 again. But instead, I smiled after the competition. I was happy that at least I had got some stage18.

 Life is not just a bed of roses. There are thorns (刺) as well, but these thorns help us become19 and strong. When life 20 us alemon, let's try to make a lemonade.

      I grew up with a birth defect known as spina bifida, a disability that affects my sense of balance, causing me to walk with a limp.

     As a young child, I could remember the way other children would look at me and stare because of the way that I walked.There were many times that my schoolmates would laugh at me and call me names simply because of their lack of understanding of why I was a little different.

      Now that I am an adult, I have noticed that the stares and names have begun to fade, and judgments that once were negative have begun to turn toward acceptance.Now I look beyond what I can't do and focus on what I can.I have learned that limitations open doors that have been closed, showing other ways to meet our needs.I have always looked at life as a challenge, grasping each obstacle with open arms.There is nothing in this world that comes easy.I must stand tall and look forward, to be ever so ready for what still lies ahead.

      People often feel sorry for those who were born with some type of disability.But their compassion is misplaced.Yes, I may not be able to run as fast or perform certain tasks, but my disability gives me a better look at life and all that's around me.I want to be seen not as a person with a disability but as a person who has and will continue to bloom.

      So I decide to become an advocate on behalf of disabled Americans, to fight for our rights which have been ignored for so long.I feel that it only takes one powerful voice to change the minds of many nations, and as long as I have a mouth to use and a mind to think I will continue to work to bring peace upon the disabled community.

Notes：

①spina bifida脊柱裂　②obstacle n ． 障碍