I'm always inspired by kids who look at the world and decide to start changing it for the better. They don't need to 1 until they become an adult-they look for ways to solve problems 2 they see them.

    A group of high schoolers in Chicago, US, 3spring break in Puerto Rico helping rebuild the island, which is still 4 from a hurricane that struck six months ago. Eight students traveled with a teacher, Lou Ramos, to help rebuild homes and 5 resources among the victims.

    “You read a lot about how we're in a 6of self-focus and iPhones and i-everything,” Lou Ramos told me. “But when we put this idea out there, the 7was amazing. They don't see this as 8anything. They see this as a great opportunity to make a 9.”

    Ramos' daughter, Faith, also went on the trip. I asked her if the 10 of spending spring break doing work—probably, 11, hot work rather than spending time with friends left her feeling conflicted (矛盾的). “12, I'd much rather help other people out,” she said. “I just feel more 13 being able to go and make a difference.”

    Her family 14to Puerto Rico two years ago for vacation. After they watched the videos of the hurricane's destruction, she said, they were 15. They wanted to do something, so they started 16 this spring break trip late last year.

    “I think it's going to 17 our young leaders to achieve an even bigger ambition.” Ramos said. “Some of them have 18 flown in an airplane, this is going to be a life-changing 19for them.” I cannot agree more with him and I'm sure it will also change the world more20.

    A mother and daughter living in my community are two of the most unfriendly people I have ever come across in my life. They are totally separated, mixing with 1. As they drive past 2 they keep their eyes looking away and make no sign of acknowledgement. The only fame they have is making a nuisance of themselves to the local police station by 3 music played too loud, dogs barking more than once a day and any other pretty 4 gripe (把柄).

    On moving into this neighborhood, I was 5 of these two but decided I would make up my own mind. This proved quite a 6 to me as more than once either the mother or the daughter would knock on my door and blast (猛烈抨击) me with some 7 or other.

    I 8 answered politely and made sure I 9 as they went past my place and also made the effort now and then to make a kind remark (话语) about their garden or pets.

    Time passed and in October, as part of the kindness rock give (送爱心石活动), Maureen and I 10 to place a kindness rock in their garden. Their 11 remained unchanged, however, and I continued to be as friendly as possible. During the Easter eve, we decided once again to 12 these two unhappy ladies to our list and left a packet of cookies on their 13. Imagine my 14 when two days later they 15 at my gate and jokingly said they are considering hanging their Christmas stocking on their gate, and they 16 me a bunch of flowers!

    So, my fellow gifters, do not 17 gifts of kindness. You may never know just what this 18 to others, nor how many broken or 19 hearted people you may just change with a simple act of 20.

    I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage (按揭), credit cards, and success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us 1 chasing the same thing.

    One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell 2. I found myself homeless and 3. I had my truck and $ 56. I 4 the countryside for some place I could rent for the 5 possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road over the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was 6, full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and 7 a corner to camp in.

    The locals knew nothing about me, 8 slowly, they started teaching me the 9 of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began sticking around to 10. They started to teach me a belief in a 11 American Dream – not the one of individual achievement but of 12 .

    What I had believed in, all those things I thought were 13for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place. Up on the 14 , my most valuable possessions were my 15 with my neighbors.

    Four years later, I moved back into 16. I saw many people were having a really hard time, 17 their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to 18 a handful of people. There are four of us now in the house, but over time I've had nine people come in and move on to other places. We'd all be in 19 if we hadn't banded together.

    The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It's not so much about what I can get for myself; it's about 20 we can all survive together.

    With supper finished, it was our time with Dad. Cindy, Tom and I climbed onto our couch. We all 1 Mom to turn on the old tape player.

    Dad had been piloting airplanes in Vietnam for the Air Force for a year. Through the year, our family received at least one 2a week from Dad. Mom played a part to us every day. Every day when Mom turned on the tape player, Dad 3by asking each of us how our 4had gone and what we had done.5 to the tape machine as if he could hear every word, each of us told him about our6. Because Mom wrote down our responses, Dad was kept7. In the following tape, he8our good deeds and 9corrected our errors. After 10 told Dad their tales, he read to us from the book Mom had sent.

    The day Dad was to11, all of us were playing around the 12. Then the gate in the fence opened. A tall man in a 13walked through the gate.

    My eldest sister jumped off the diving board and ran towards the man. Mom ran behind. The man embraced Mom and kissed her.

    14by the scene, Tom and I looked at each other. Soon, the tall, uniformed man arrived at the pool's edge and smiled 15at us. With the innocence of a four-year-old girl, I looked up and  16 , “Are you my father?”

    He burst into tears, knelt down, 17us into his arms and said, “Yes, I'm your father.” 18 I heard his voice, I 19him as my father because it was the same20that I heard so frequently on tape.

    I don't remember the day my mother saved my life. But for her, the 1 of that day is vivid. When she 2 those events, she's thirty five years old again and I am a tiny baby in her arms.

    It was early March, but the3 wind bit like it was the depths of December. My mother 4 the blanket even tighter around me as she hurried to the 5 door. I was two months old, and that was our third 6 to the doctor that week. Each time a different face said the same words. "It's 7. Just a simple cold, ma'am." That day was no different. My mother left, feeling 8, convinced there must be something wrong with my breathing. At home, she kept me closer than normal, 9 monitoring my breathing.

    When I woke up the next day, fighting for breath, her 10 were around me with quick sureness, and I was rushed to the 11. We flew past red 12. "Breathe, Alana! Breathe!" she cried out. We reached the hospital, and her arms were around me again. "This baby can't 13!" my mother shouted. Even as doctors 14 me, her arms never let me go.

    I have grown up in Mum's arms. Today I'm seventeen, and for most people that means the times for 15 are over. But when I'm applying for colleges, I 16 at the computer screen for hours. Suddenly, I feel 17, not knowing what to do. I realize that dependence is not a(n) 18. Instead, with someone by my side, I am much stronger than I will ever be 19. I may not remember the moment my mother saved my life so long ago. 20, looking back, I see that my mother saves my life every day.

    When we finished eating, I quickly grabbed (抓住)the check and 1 to pay. Before I could get to the counter(结账处)a man 2 me over to his table, saying "I know you saw 3 at you and I'm sorry if it made you4. It's just because you look like my old classmate 40 years ago." Then he asked if we would be with them for a few minutes.5, Danielle and I sat down. We talked for about 10-15 minutes and then I 6 I had something 7 to do. As I stood up to leave, the man 8 across the table and took my 9 out of my hand. Before I could explain, he said "I would really like to 10 this meal for you." He continued," The only thing I ask 11 is that some day when you can help others, please pass on the 12."

    As I walked to my car 13 what just happened, Danielle started jumping up and down with 14 , saying, "Mama, now we can get a Christmas tree!" 15 , we bought a Christmas tree for $8.97, which I still have today. I never put an angel (天使)on the top because it has a 16 one! Although I never met that man again 17 the years, there's hardly a day that goes by that I don't think of his 18 .He was right. I have been able to pass it on. I became a speaker and passed on his 19 to as many people as I could reach.

    Whether he's divine (神圣的)or not doesn't 20. I still think of him as a guardian angel.