I quit my office job in 2012. At that time, a strong sense of 1bothered me. I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do with my life. So I committed myself to2. I took acting classes, traveled, volunteered on farms, and so forth. After a period of time, I realized my problem had 3changed. My idea bank was full of4. I had countless ideas for what I could perform to 5 a meaningful life. However, the number of the choices I had made me 6. Being passionate about so many things, I didn't know what I should 7to find a way forward.

    By chance, I read a book written by Stephen Covey, in which he 8that people “begin with the end in mind” when they need to make choices. The idea means knowing your final goal 9, and then you can more10 make the choices and take the steps 11to reach your goal. Thanks to Covey, I knew what I should 12. I showed an interest in 13 at an early age, and hoped to make a difference some day. So my interest14my final goal. And fortunately, after about two years of effort, now I have devoted myself to this15work—a professional dancer.

    In daily life, a large number of people may have the same 16— not knowing which to choose when they have lots of 17 for many things. According to my own experience, I have realized that in order to 18the uncertainty about choosing, knowing the final goal first really matters. Not only did it help me know 19 what I should pursue, but it also functioned as a firm belief that 20me to take action to make it.

    When I was eight, I wrote my first poem. My mother read and cried, “Buddy, you didn't really write this beautiful poem!” Shyly, but 1, I said yes. She poured out her 2.“It was nothing short of talent!” “What time will Father be home?” I asked. I could 3 wait to show my work to him. I spent quite some time 4 for his arrival. I wrote the poem out in my finest flourish(花体字), drew a fancy border around it and 5 I placed it right on my father's plate on the dining table. My father had begun his motion-picture career as a writer. I was sure he would be able to 6 my poem.

    At almost 7 o'clock my father burst in. He seemed 7. He circled the dining-room table, complaining about his employees. 8 he paused and glared at his plate. “What is this?” He's reaching for my poem. “Ben, Buddy has written his first poem!” my mother began. “And it's beautiful, absolutely amaze...” “If you don't mind, I'd like to decide for myself.” Father said. I 9 my head as he read that poem. It was only ten lines. But it seemed to take hours. Then I heard him dropping the poem back on the table. Now came the moment of 10. “I think it's terrible,” he said. I couldn't look up. My eyes were getting 11.

    “Ben, these are the first lines of poetry he's ever written,” my mother was saying. “He needs encouragement.” “I don't know why.” My father held his ground. “Isn't there enough 12 poetry in the world already?” I couldn't 13it another second. I ran from the dining room crying. Up in my room I 14 myself on the bed and cried the worst of the disappointment out of me.

That may have been the end of the story, but not of its 15 for me. I realized how 16 I had been. I had a mother who said, “I think it's wonderful!” and a father who drove me to hear with “I think it's awful.” Every one of us needs that mother force, from which all creation flows; and yet the mother force alone is 17. It needs the balance of the force that 18, “Watch. Listen. Review. Improve.”

    Those 19 voices of my childhood ring in my ears through the years, like two opposing winds blowing me. 20 the two poles of confirmation and doubt, both in the name of love, I try to follow my true course.

    “Just sign here, sir.” the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.

    The package consisted of a long, narrow box1wrapped in brown paper. 2 the box, Oscar saw an umbrella inside — a very old one with a beautifully carved handle._3 he had not seen it for more than 20 years, he recognized it 4

    Oscar was 16 when he first saw the5umbrella. He had gone to a concert with his grandparents. As they were leaving, he noticed an umbrella on an empty seat. Impressed by its6 Oscar felt a strong desire to find its7.

    Oscar 8the manager to look in the record of advance ticket sales. Just as he thought, a name matched the seat 9Oscar had found the umbrella. The name was Mrs. Katie O'Brien.

    Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O'Rrien's 10 on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I 11 you? ” she asked. “I'd like to return it if it's yours.” Oscar said, 12 the umbrella as if presenting a13 that had long been wished for. “Why, yes! It's mine.” replied Mrs. O'Brien with a14 smile and shining eyes. “It was given to me by my father years ago. Thank you so much for returning it. May I offer you a reward for your 15?” “No, ma'am,” he said, “my grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward.” “Well, that's 16 what my father used to say. What is your name? Young man?”

    Years later, Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O'Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how17 it was. Why had it arrived here today? As if 18 a note fell from the paper. It read: Mrs. O'Brien wanted you to 19 this umbrella as a present for a kind, 20gesture long ago.

    On the first day of my school life in the USA, I showed a great interest in marketing class(营销课). My teacher, Mrs. Tolman, suggested I 1 a marketing club called DECA attracting students with talent and interest in 2. So I did.

    The first 3 was to collect money for the marketing competition by selling candles. Mrs. Tolman said the competition was due in a week and that 40 percent of the 4 would go into my personal account (个人账户).

    At the beginning, I tried to sell candles to my host mom. She said that if I could 5confidence and do a wonderful sales presentation, she would buy some. I started my presentation with a 6 handshake. Then I introduced the candles and the special sales I could offer and 7 her that our candles were perfect for gifts and home decorations. Finally she bought three. Greatly 8 I decided to sell them in the neighborhood. On Saturday morning, with great courage, I knocked at the door of my first potential 9.

    "I'm a student and we are 10 money for DECA. I'm trying to sell..."

    "Not today, sorry," the man stopped me and 11the door. Embarrassed, I walked away and said to myself the 12 thing that might happen was being refused like that again. I couldn't even count how many times I was 13 with reasons like "Not today" or "I don't have any 14 money".15, I had to continue. 16, a woman kindly bought $60 worth of candles. I couldn't even hide my 17 and said "Thank you very much" to her with a bow.

    After a 18 hard work, I turned in my $408. I was 19 to find out I was the second highest seller in all classes.

    It was the first time that I had worked as a salesperson. Now I look back on this experience with satisfaction, and I feel glad that I did not 20 in face of difficulties.

    Looking overwhelmed(淹没) by the attention, Rubi Ibarra celebrated her 15th birthday on a big farm in central Mexico. The 1 to the event by her father 2 rapidly and made her a star in her country.

    Family members had to open a path for the girl through dozens of 3 and photographers so she could reach the Mass(弥撒) for her on a farm in the state of San Luis Potosi. A large board4"Welcome to my 15th birthday party" with Ruby's picture towered over the tents and tables 5 with food.

    Thousands of people 6 from across Mexico for the celebration. Ruby's party 7 national and international fame after a local event photographer posted on his Facebook page a video of the girl's father 8 a birthday party complete with food, horse races and local bands. In the video, Crescencio Ibarra 9 describes the party and prizes, before announcing that "everyone is 10 invited."

    Rubi's mother later11 that Crescencio had only been referring to everyone in the 12 communities, not the world, but by then the video had been picked up many times on Youtube and had been seen by millions.

    Mexican airline Interjet published a promotion offering 30% 13 on flights to San Luis Potosi, under the slogan "Are you going to Rubi's party?" Actor Gael Garcia Bernal made a funny video of the invitation, and singer Luis Antonio Lopez wrote a lovely 14 especially for Rubi.

    Several hundred guests15 on the morning of the day for the party, but the number increased as the day 16 so that by evening there were thousands and the event looked like a rock concert. Cars 17 the access roads to the communities and police monitored the 18.

    "What happened with Rubi is an interesting example of how the 19 amplifies(放大) people's personal lives and how traditional media look 20 stories on social networks to bring in new audiences," said Sergio Octavio Contreras, a professor from a Mexican university.

    My husband and I have little money lately. We haven't 1 out for a while, so we went to a 2 last night.

    When we saw the 3, we knew we could only afford to get a small pizza, so we would have enough money left for 4. Before long our pizza that was cut to 4 pieces arrived. My husband wanted to act like a 5, so he would like to put a piece of 6 on my plate. Unluckily it dropped onto the 7. I knew he would be 8 about others' opinions on him. I told him, "Honey, don't let other people 9 us. We still have three pieces left."

    The manager 10 this and came over with a broom (扫帚). He 11 the pizza and said he was 12 that the oven (烤箱) had been turned off, or he would have 13 another pizza for us. At the end of our meal he 14 to our table again to thank us for being here. Then he 15 us one coupon (优惠券) for a free small pizza. We were 16because he could have chosen a 17 attitude (态度) when he saw the pizza we dropped during their closing time. Instead he chose to make sure we could left 18. My husband was going to give him tips for our meal that we had prepared, 19 the manager didn't take them. To some people it might not be important, but to us it meant a lot. Our rare treat of enjoying a night out was made more 20.