I began to grow up that winter night. My mother said we might soon 1America. We were on the bus then and I was crying. I remember I could not bear the 2of never hearing again the radio program for school3 to which I listened every morning.

    I don't remember myself crying 4 this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying5to my friends and relatives. I just thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and6places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was7in my head then.

    The four years that followed 8me the importance of optimism, but the 9did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really 10 —having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. Mother remarried, and things became even more11for me. Some time 12before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, seeing no end to “the13times.”

    My 14in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters,15out forms, translated at interviews with Immigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and16there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.

    From my experiences I have learned one important 17: almost all common troubles eventually 18away! Something good is certain to happen 19when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, 20 it will not be that easy.

    One night, when I was eight , my mother gently asked me a question I would never forget. “Sweetie, my company wants to  1me but needs me to work in Brazil. This is like your teacher telling that you've done 2 and allowing you to skip a grade(跳级), but you'll have to 3 your friends. Would you say yes to your teacher?” She gave me a hug and asked me to think about it. I was puzzled. The question kept me 4 for the rest of the night I had said “yes” but for the first time, I realized the5decisions adults had to make.

    For almost four years, my mother would call us from Brazil every day. Every evening I'd 6 wait for the phone to ring and then tell her every detail of my day. A phone call, however, could never replace her 7and it was difficult not to feel lonely at times.

    During my fourth-grade Christmas break, we flew to Rio to visit her. Looking at her large 8 apartment, I became 9 how lonely my mother must have been in Brazil herself. It was then10 I started to appreciate the tough choices she had to make on 11 family and work. 12difficult decisions, she used to tell me, you wouldn't know whether you make the right choice, but you could always make the best out of the situation, with passion and a 13attitude.

    Back home , I 14 myself that what my mother could do, I could, too. If she 15  to live in Rio all by herself, I, too, could learn to be 16 . I learn how to take care of myself and set high but achievable17.

    My mother is now back with us. But I will never forget what the 18 has really taught me. Sacrifices 19 in the end. The separation between us has proved to be 20 for me.

    Here is a story. A young man while walking in the desert1a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so2, he filled his leather canteen so that he could bring some back to a tribal（部落）3 who had been his teacher.

    After a four-day4 he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled 5 and thanked his student sincerely for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a 6 heart.

    Later, the teacher let another student 7 the water. He spat(吐) it out, saying it was 8. It obviously had become smelly because of the old leather 9.

    The student asked his teacher, "Master, the water was smelly. Why did you 10 to like it?" The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the 11.The water was 12 the container for an act of loving-kindness and 13 could be sweeter."

    I think we understand this 14 best when we receive gifts of love from young children. Whether it's a post card or a birthday cake, the natural and 15 response is appreciation and expressed thankfulness because we love the idea 16 the gift.

    Gratitude(感恩) doesn't always come naturally.17, most children and many adults value only the thing given 18 the feeling included in it. We should 19 ourselves and teach our children about the beauty of feelings and expressions of gratitude.20, gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.

    William Weaver was one of 14 black students integrating(使融合进入) the all—white West High School. A teacher told him that he “didn't belong.” He had a test and the teacher 1 him and then just took the paper away and said, “ 2 is up.” The first report card he got was 3 F's. So he started to think maybe he didn't belong and that he was 4 .

    One evening he was at home and Edward Hill, his science teacher from the 5 school, came by to visit. Weaver told Mr Hill that the white school were trying to 6 him away. Mr Hill asked Weaver to come to his old school after 7 . So every day waiting for him would be Mr. Hill with other teachers and they 8 him. Once he got past those F's, he stopped 9 himself. But no matter what he did, he was never 10 at that school. Weaver never had a 11 with a counselor(辅导员)about going to college. But, to his 12 , he got a letter telling him he had been awarded a scholarship. Weaver 13 it and went on to 14 Howard University.

    Many years 15 , Weaver came across Mr Hill and told him, “Mr Hill, if I had not gotten that 16 , I don't know what would have happened. And I don't know 17 I got the scholarship because I never even applied for it.” Mr Hill said, “I know, because I filled in the 18 and sent it off for you.” So Mr Hill stepped 19 and changed his life, 20 at that time Weaver didn't realize how much he was being helped.

    It was my first night in my college dorm room. A couple of months ago, I was prepared for finals, 1, and the day I would keep my promise 2 out as soon as I had the chance. I 3used threat when I was angry or couldn't get my way. 4my parents just grinned.

    Now I 5 watching TV programs with my parents. I missed the time my parents spent with me. I missed the home videos I 6with my brother and sister. Now, those moments are only memories.

    Sitting at my desk with my laptop open, I7an e-mail to a radio station my mom listens to every morning before work. I 8a special song called Don't Forget to Remember.

    The next morning, my mom got out of bed and 9the radio as usual. She was amazed by the speakers10. You know how 11I was weeks ago because I sent my little girl to school for the first time? A college student 12 us and said that she misses her parents and13they have done for her. She also chose a special song in14of them. So we want to thank Cindy for that e-mail, 15it really eased my worry about my little girl growing up and 16about things parents do for them.

    The song began to play while my mom ran over to my dad and 17him up. "Honey! Did you hear that? Was that our Cindy? Our daughter who couldn't wait to 18home?" My dad, just barely opening his eyes, replied with, "If it is, that is very 19of her.”

    I got a call from my mom that night. I was so excited to tell her that I20my first day of college and we talked for about an hour. Just when we were about to say our goodbyes, I added one last plea: "Mom, don't forget to remember me.”

    One day, when I was in high school, I saw a kid named Kyle from my class walking home from school with all his books. I thought to myself, "1 would anyone bring home all his books for the weekend? He must really be 2."

    As I was walking, I saw several kids running toward him. They ran at him, 3all his books out of his arms and he fell down in the dirt. His glasses went 4and landed in the grass.

    My 5 went out to him. So, I ran over to him. 6 I handed him his glasses, he looked at me and said, "Hey, thanks!"

    I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it 7, he lived near me. We talked all the way home. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.

    Kyle was the 8 student of our class, one of those guys that really found 9 during high school. Therefore he had the honor to prepare a 10 speech. On the graduation day, I could see that he was 11. So, I patted(拍) him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be 12!" He looked at me and smiled.

    He cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to 13 those who helped you make it through those 14 years. Your parents, your teachers…but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best 15 you can give him."

    I just looked at my friend with 16 as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to 17himself over the weekend and was carrying his books home. "Thankfully, nothing happened. My friend 18 me from doing the unspeakable(不能说出来的)."

    Not until that moment did I realize that you should never underestimate(低估) the 19of your actions. With one small act you can 20 a person's life. For better or for worse.