My Hero

    What does it mean to be a hero? I think a hero is someone who goes out of his way to make others happy. My hero is Mr. Wright, my chorus(合唱队) teacher.

    When I was 12 years old, my grandparents passed away. I was really close to them, and losing them was the hardest thing I've ever had to1through. I couldn't eat, sleep, or think; I felt like I couldn't even breathe. It was as if my whole world had fallen down from under me, and I2into this huge hole of depression(抑郁).

    3I was battling depression, I was determined to make my high school years the best of my life. It was difficult to be 4, but I had to try. I joined Women's Choir. Mr. Wright was the choral director and he was so funny that the first day, I just knew I had made the best5of my life. As the year progressed, I loved chorus more and more. I began to smile again and really enjoy 6.

    Then one day that all changed. My friends—or those that I thought were my friends—started talking about me behind my back. I was7 , and I sat by myself. Mr. Wright came over and asked what was wrong. The look in his eyes told me that I could8him. Trying hard to9 back tears, I told him the whole story.

    When I finished, he nodded and told me, “If you never learn anything from me, learn this: No one is worth 10 your joy.” What Mr. Wright said really11a chord (心弦) in my heart. He 12 cared about me and what was going on. I'll never be able to thank him enough, because he not only saved me but has13every day of it since. Any time I feel like giving 14, I remember Mr. Wright's words and push forward.

    I'm proud to say that I 15 my depression, and I'm now a senior. I'm still a16of chorus, and now I'm also in the best choir at my school.

Mr. Wright is a hero 17 everyone he meets. He cares about every single person who walks through his door, and he loves what he does more than any other teacher I've known. That's18  he deserves to be Educator of the Year. He deserves the19 not just this year but every year.

    I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet you, Mr. Wright. You are an 20teacher, and I hope you realize that. You're my hero.

    My son Kevin loved wrestling when he was growing up. When he 1  high school, he was blessed with a lot of 2 ability. Even as a freshman wrestler he showed promise, and he continued to 3 each year. As a senior, he was captain of a team that set a(n)4 record, and he went into the state tournament ranked number one. He had 5 four matches. Here we were, in the finals of the state tournament, ready to claim our championship. 6, his last match didn't go well, and we didn't have a state championship7 his high school career was over. I felt 8, and I was unwilling to9 what had just happened, and unable to believe it. I painfully 10 Kevin as he shook hands with his opponent (对手), and stood calmly as the referee(裁判员) 11 his opponent's hand in victory. Then he quietly walked out of the gymnasium.

    A few weeks later I received a 12 from Kevin's school's principal. In the long letter, the principal 13 Kevin's respectful approach to peers, his devotion to his friends, his 14 manners and his spirit of cooperation. After I read this, I cried. For years, I had watched every single match Kevin had wrestled in high school,15 I hadn't noticed all the outstanding 16 that his principal recognized. I 17 the wins. And when he didn't get that final win, I was especially hurt and disappointed. I'd failed to18 that Kevin was working hard to achieve victories ,but always performing with character in spite of 19 he won or lost. At that moment, my son became my mentor (导师). He 20 me that the pursuit(追求) of victory is a noble goal, but that winners in life appreciate the pursuit more than the victory itself.

    I sat down at my desk and started writing a letter of thankfulness, but when it came to actually putting the letter into the mailbox... I 1  I couldn't do it. I suddenly felt a sense of 2 and insecurity (不安).

    The letter was to an old teacher with whom I kept in 3 on Facebook. For months, I read about what she 4 on her Facebook page, which helped me to live my life differently. Her volunteer (志愿者) work wasn't huge. 5, she was doing small, local good deeds. 6, she changed my views on the world and for some reason. I felt I should let her know how her example 7 influenced me.

    I could have easily sent her an email, but that seemed not enough for such an important thank-you. That's why I ended up 8 the letter. But now here I was, standing before the mailbox, unable to put the envelope inside. What was stopping me? It suddenly hit me that I was 9 of being too nice. I guess I felt strange 10 it wasn't like she was my best friend or a relative. Maybe my 11 was too heartfelt. Thinking this over, I put the envelope in the mailbox 12.

    Weeks later I received a message from her. It turned out she was 13 a hard time and my note 14 a lot to her. She said she had no idea she was playing such a big 15 in others' life.

    Not only did this letter make her happier, but her response to it brightened my world and 16 my level of happiness as well. I was so 17 that it had such a great influence on her that I decided to write a(n) 18 letter to someone each month. Now it's easier for me to 19 the goodness in others and be more 20 for this beautiful life I'm living.

    A Milwaukee bus driver went above the call of duty when she stopped to save an unlikely would-be passenger: a toddler.

    Irene Ivic was driving on a freeway overpass when she 1 a barefoot toddler, Milwaukee County Transit System spokesman Matt Sliker said. The child, wearing a red onesie and a diaper, was quickly 2 to the crossroads.

    "I'm just 3 I was in the right place at the right time, "Ivic said at the awards ceremony held in her 4 on Thursday.

    Ivic stopped the bus and ran out to 5 the toddler, as seen in a video 6 by the transit system. She carried the child to the bus, 7 passengers gathered in disbelief.

    "Oh my God. Oh my God. I am  8, "Ivic said in the video as she sat down in the driver's seat with the toddler.

    A 9 on the bus took off her winter coat and wrapped it 10 the little girl, who was 11 to the touch. The 12 were freezing that day, on December 22, according to the transit system.

    Ivic sat talking to the child, stroking her hair. The little one soon fell asleep in her 13, as seen in the video.

    The 19-month-old had been cold and scared but was 14 unharmed, police said.

    The child went missing after officials believe her mother had a 15 health crisis, the transit system statement said. "Authorities eventually 16 the baby with its father,"Sliker said.

    This is the ninth 17 a lost or missing child has been 18 by a Milwaukee County Transit System driver in recent years, according to the statement.

    "I absolutely love kids. I used to be a 19 and I have children of my own, so I'm so happy I was able to help this sweet, 20 baby, "Ivic said.

Over the past 38 years, Mr. Wang has pretended to be someone else many times, and has even learn ed to 1 different dialects (方言), leading to him being described as an "Oscar-winning actor".

The 60-year-old is not an actor, but a 2 However, he is more devoted to his "3 " than any real actor. In the 1990s, a group of thieves often sold stolen goods with the help of some beggars. To look into the 4 , Wang disguised (伪装) himself and 5 the beggars.

Dirty clothes and old shoes gave him the 6 of a real beggar and his convincing dialect soon won him the 7 of the beggars. "I often 8 them to drink alcohol. Once they were 9 they began to talk a lot," Wang said. "I'd then 10 myself to use the toilet, 11 what the beggars said, and send the 12 to my teammates."

Wang, who is often in 13 situations, is also a judo (柔道) master. "As long as I get close enough, no criminal(罪犯)can 14 from me," he said. Wang's 15 won him several honors including a National May Day Labor Medal and 11 Citations of Merit. Paris. 

Last September an American started a trip through Southwest China on a standard bike she had bought at a local shop. In three months, Jennifer Holstein cycled 2,500 kilometers through three provinces with just two small bags.

Living in Beijing, her life was already great. But Holstein felt the urge to travel the world and look for adventure. It was mid-August of 2021 that the idea came to her to travel China by bicycle. At that time, Holstein had never cycled for more than 20 kilometers around her local city of Beijing.

Holstein shared an experience from the beginning of her trip when she found herself stuck in a tunnel (隧道) with a flat tire (轮胎). It was dark and hot, and she was so scared because she had never changed a tire before. Suddenly, a group of cyclists old enough to be her grandparents came and rescued her.

In addition to receiving the kindness of people across China, Holstein also experienced several unique cultural experiences by attending three local weddings. She spoke about one wedding in detail, "I was in the middle of a small village in Sichuan province, and I was taken into a local Tibetan family's home and they invited me to take part in a wedding. They gave me a dress and even did my makeup. I never thought I would ever have the chance to take part in a Tibetan wedding."

According to Holstein, "Many people want to travel the world and take huge risks, but never do. Don't just live your life hoping your wildest dreams will become a reality someday. Try first and the rest will work itself out." In addition to biking for her own passion and curiosity, Holstein also linked her ride to raise 22,000 yuan for the United Foundation for China's Health.