Jenna, a popular girl from Westwood Middle School, had graduated first in her class and was ready for new1 in high school.

However, high school was different. In the first week, Jenna went to tryouts{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(选拔赛) for cheerleaders{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(啦啦队队员). She was competing against very talented girls, and she knew it would be2 for her to be selected. Two hours later, the3 read a list of the girls for a second tryout. Her heart was down as the list ended without her name. Feeling4 , she walked home carrying her schoolbag full of homework.

Arriving home, she started with maths. She had always been a5 maths student, but now she was struggling. She moved on to English and history, and was happy to find that she didn't have any trouble with those subjects. Feeling better, she decided not to6 maths for the time being.

The next day Jenna went to see Mrs Biden about being on the school7 . Mrs Biden wasn't as8 as Jenna. "I'm sorry, but we have enough9 for the newspaper already. Come back next year and we'll talk then." Jenna smiled10 and left. "Why is high school so11 ?" she sighed.

Later in maths class, Jenna devoted herself to figuring out the problems that had given her so much12 . By the end of class, she understood how to get them right. As she gathered her books, Jenna decided she'd continue to try to fit in at her new school. She wasn't sure if she'd13 , but she knew she had to try. High school was just as her mum had said, "You will feel like a small fish in a big pond14 a big fish in a small pond. The challenge is to become the15 fish you can be."

While watching videos on Douyin one day, I came across a very unique profile（轮廓）: an 88-year-old farmer livestreaming trendy products in a rural setting. I clicked his page and saw that he was livestreaming because he needed to cover his wife's medical expenses. Curious, I decided to contact him and learn more about his story.

Now a retired farmer, Wu relies on government subsidies（补贴）. One rainy day, he returned to his rundown one-floor cottage in the suburb of Henan province and found his wife lying on the ground in great pain. She had broken her leg and lost the ability to walk.

A great burden befell this already poverty-stricken family. The medical expenses for Wu's wife are about 800 yuan per month. Her daughter, a mother of three and a housewife, has no means of supporting Wu financially. As a heavy user on Douyin, Wu's daughter thought that perhaps they too could try livestreaming as a way to help their family. With a 9.9 yuan phone holder, they began livestreaming on Douyin, and Wu became one of the oldest livestreamers on the platform.

Every day, Wu livestreams for a total of six hours, separated into morning and afternoon sessions. With a broad smile and soothing（宽慰的）voice, he explains the products on his table, which range from water bottles, makeup removers and vegetables to traditional Chinese clothing that Wu himself wears in front of the camera. Thousands of viewers are drawn in by his moving story and amiable（和蔼的）personality. They refer to him dearly as "my uncle Wu" or "Laoxiang".

During my interview with him, Wu would laugh warmly. His strong Henan dialect was sometimes hard to understand, but his tone was full of comfort and optimism. "I enjoy livestreaming. One day, one of the viewers came to visit me. I was so happy." Wu spoke about the friendships he made after becoming a livestreamer, and his voice was so contagious（感染力的）that it put a smile on my face.

He also does not avoid showing affection for his wife: "I will buy her good food when I have the money." I am moved by his ability to see the optimistic side of life despite being struck by hardships and his resilience（坚韧）sailing through the low tides of life.

As a child I once read a story of two men who walked 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada with huge packs,  {#blank#}1{#/blank#}caught my eye, as L, too, dreamed of adventures in the wilderness. I've always remembered that story,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}never believed I would actually make it. It was too far out of my comfort zone.

But then, at the age of 42, I{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(hike) the 88 Temples Trail through Japan There, I experienced how attractive it could be to hike alone.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}impressed me most were the fantastic mountains, grand temples and generous local people.

When I shared my plan {#blank#}5{#/blank#}friends and colleagues, the news was welcomed with mixed{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(react). From some I got enthusiastic approval. But from others there were frowns and question marks. Half a year away from my family was{#blank#}7{#/blank#}challenge for me. Yet it wouldn't defeat me. After all, six months is{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(simple) a short period in a lifetime.{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(work) hard for 20 years in shiny office buildings, I felt the need for more adventure in my life. I hoped to slow down and look within, as well as explore the unfamiliar things. I understood that I needed them both.{#blank#}10{#/blank#}John Muir once said, "Keep close to nature… and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean."

More than 50 years ago, my dad planted {#blank#}1{#/blank#} evergreen tree.He watered it and cared for it.A few {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(year) later, when it grew to about 3 feet tall, he placed its first set of Christmas lights on it.Thus our tradition began.Every Christmas ever since, this tree has lit up our neighborhood corner.

Dad passed away in November 1991.With all the emotions of his {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(pass),Thanksgiving came and went.When the topic of the tree {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(bring) up, Mom said,"Not this year."But my brother, sister and I said,"Dad would want it to be done,"so the following weekend,we {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(decorate) the tree together {#blank#}6{#/blank#} memory of him.

The tree now stands about 40 feet tall, and we have to use a beautiful cherry lift.{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(put) the top lights on.We turn the lights on the evening after Thanksgiving,{#blank#}8{#/blank#} send out light each night until New Year's Day.People drive by slowly, taking pictures or simply {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (enjoy) its beauty.Then in spring we pack the lights {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(safe) away for the next year.

In 2014, Amy collapsed from a brain hemorrhage (脑溢血) while working. After a year recovering at home, she 1 a course with the ambition to become a 2 .

However, occasional vision disturbance was still 3 , influencing the amount of 4 she could give to the course. Further complications (并发症) left the young artist almost completely blind, making it difficult to see a whole figure. It's particularly 5 because it seemed to 6 her optimism to be a painter! 

One morning, when watching the sunrise, she suddenly felt a sense of 7 . She realized that she may not 8 a whole face anymore, but it shouldn't stop her from putting what she could see on canvas (画布). The following years, she 9 her special art journey.

"Strangely, my experience has increased my 10 when drawing, enabling me to catch a character better," she explains. "People often speak highly of the detail and sensitivity of the character. I have more determination and appreciation for my 11 . These are 12 I wouldn't have had without everything I've 13 ." For her new touring exhibition, she has produced a series of artworks based on her visual experience. "In the 14 interaction between what I can and cannot see lies my perspective on the world."

Sometimes, we can turn a loss into a gain: something unique and individual that has been gifted to us by never 15 .