Teachers selected from each district school for the Teacher of the Year competition were recognized.The competition's winner will be1in the spring.All those model teachers got me to think about some of my teachers through the years, and how they2me.

    My college adviser, J.C.Casey, had a big3on my life.She was a teacher and friend.She4me to consider journalism as a career.My high school math teacher,Kathy Cloud,took the time to5math to me in a way I could    6understand.I'd struggled with math until I got in Cloud's classes.She gave me the7to realize I could do it.

    My first-grade teacher, Darlene Dryden, held me back. Now, most people wouldn't8the teacher that kept them back a grade fondly, but Dryden has always been my9teacher.I was the youngest person in my class and very shy. She thought I10another year to mature before moving on to second11.She didn't make me feel12for having to repeat the grade.Instead,he made me feel13.I think I was her favorite, too.

    My senior year of high school, right before14,I wrote Dryden a note letting her know that I'd become a good student and was going to15and that she'd had a16in that.

    The Norman teachers17Wednesday are just a few of the many who are in the classrooms every day making 18in their students' lives.They may not even know the19impact（影响）they're having.I know it's not an20 job, but teachers, just remember that you're a Mrs.Dryden to somebody.

    On a cold winter evening, I was walking home, tired and hungry, when suddenly came screams(呼喊声) from behind some tress.1 ， I slowed down to listen, and 2 that what I was hearing were the sounds of a fight. A woman was being3not far from where I stood.

    “Should I go to help her？” I thought. I was worried about my own 4 ， and I regretted having suddenly decided to take a new way home that night.“What if I am5too? Shouldn't I just6to the nearest phone and call the police？” But already the girl's7were growing weaker. I knew it was time for me to act fast because I could not8the life of this unknown woman，9 it meant risking my own life.

    I am not a 10 man. I didn't know where I found the11and physical strength(体力), but once I had finally12to help the girl, I became suddenly changed. I ran behind the bushes and 13the attacker off the woman. Struggling, we fell to the ground, where we fought for a few minutes 14the man jumped up and ran away.

    15 heavily，I stood up and came up to the girl, who was crying behind a tree. In the 16 ， I could not see her clearly, but I could certainly17her shock. Not wanting to frighten her any further, at first I spoke to her from a distance.

    “It's OK，” I said 18.“The man ran away. You're safe now.”There was a long stop and then I heard the words, said in both wonder and 19“Dad, is that you？” And then, from behind the tree, stepped my youngest 20 ， Katherine.

    During my childhood, my father's favorite sayings was “Try it!” I couldn't say I didn't like 1, whatever it might be2I tried it. Over the years I've come to realize how much of my success I3to my acceptance of those words as one of my4. My first job was just one I decided to try for a couple of years until I5what I want to do as a career.6I believed I would work for a few years, get married, stay home and 7a family, so I didn't think the job I took8that much. I couldn't have been more9  I mastered the skills of that beginning level position and I was given the opportunity to10through the company into different11. I accepted each new opportunity with the12, “Well, I'll try it; if I don't like it I can always go back to my 13position.” But I was with the same company for the past 28 years, and I've14every career change I've made. I've discovered I15a large number of different talents and skills that I never would have thought were within me had it not been for my being 16trying new opportunities. I've also discovered that if I 17what I'm doing and work hard at achieving my 18, I will succeed. That's why I'm so 19 to be a part of CareerFables.com. I think20 has come and I am determined to make it a success.

The Little Angel

    Sally jumped up the moment she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She asked, "How is my little boy?"

    The surgeon said, "I'm 1. We did all we could, but your boy didn't2 it."

    Sally 3 into the chair. The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time with your son before he was transported to the 4?" Sally nodded. While saying goodbye, she ran her fingers 5 through his thick curly hair. "Would you like a lock of his hair?" the surgeon asked. Sally nodded yes. The surgeon cut a few hairs, and handed them to Sally. The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to 6 his body to the university for study. He said it might 7 somebody else. "I said no at first, 8 Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.'"

    "My Jimmy had a heart of 9, always thinking of someone else, always wanting to help others if he could." she went on.

    Sally walked out of the hospital. She put the bag with Jimmy's 10 on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was 11. It was even harder to enter the 12 house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the lock of his hair to her son's room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room 13 where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, 14 herself to sleep.

    It was around midnight when Sally 15. Lying beside her on the bed was a letter. The letter said,

"Dear Mom,

    I know you're going to 16 me, and me too. I will always love you, Mom, even more 17 each passing day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to 18a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's OK with me. He can have my room and old toys to play with.

    Don't be sad thinking about me. I don't hurt any more. The cancer is all19. I don't have to stand that 20 any more. The angels in Heaven are so tender. They say I'm a Special Angel! I love you, Mom."

    My 9-year-old daughter and I were flying from our home in Carolina to spend a week with my husband in Florida. We were 1 about the trip because we hadn't seen him for five months, and my daughter 2 her Dad terribly.

    As usual on the Charlotte-to-Miami flight, the plane was totally 3. Because we did not get our boarding passes until we 4 at the gate, Kallie and I could not get seats together and were 5 by the aisle (过道). I asked two passengers in my row if they would switch places with Kallie and me, 6 we could be together. They 7, saying they thought they should stay in their assigned seats. Meanwhile, a mother and her three children were in a 8 several rows ahead of us. There had been a mistake in their boarding passes, and 9 the whole family had been split up. The passengers in her row10 refused to move elsewhere. She was very 11 about the younger boy sitting with strangers. She was in tears, yet nobody 12 to help her. There were a troop of Boy Scouts(童子军) on 13. Suddenly the Scout leader stood up and said, “Ma'am, I think we can help you.” He then14 five minutes rearranging his group so that enough space was  15 for the family. The boys followed his directions cheerfully and without 16, and the mother's relief was obvious.

    Kallie, however, was beginning to panic at the 17of not being next to me. I told her that there wasn't anything I could do. 18, the man sitting next to the Scoutmaster, 19to me and asked, “Would you and your daughter like our seats?” 20 to himself and the Scoutmaster. We traded seats and continued our trip, very much relieved to be together and watch the scenery from Kallie's window sea.

    I grew up as the "baby" of my family. I was the 1 of three sons. My brothers were five and seven years older than me. They 2 with most of the chores (杂务) around the house, while I spent most of my time riding my bike, 3 basketball in the yard, and etc. To say I was a bit 4 wouldn't be unreasonable. I spent my childhood with all the fun and none of the 5.

    By the time I entered my early teens, however, my 6 had moved out of our home. My dad was badly 7 and became disabled. We had 8 a mountain top house heated by a wood stove (火炉) with only well water to drink. I soon 9 myself then doing more 10 than I had ever done before. I 11 our garden and mowed our lawn (割草) in the summer. In the fall I carried wood to keep us 12 in the winter months to come. And all year round I carried 13 containers of water from a mountain spring back to our house.

    At first I grumbled and 14 to myself. After a while, though, I began to find 15 in helping my parents that I 16 so much. I sang to myself when I cut wood and 17 while I carried water. I 18 found myself helping my mom with the dinner dishes and cleaning. I started to 19 something that I would carry with me the rest of my life too: When your work is done in 20, it isn't work.