As I held my father's hands one night, I couldn't help but notice their calluses (老茧) and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a1, including all his struggles.

    One summer, I remember, a drought (旱灾) hit Ontario, turning it into a2desert. On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last3from the grocery shore. Fifty dozen was all we needed, which4took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn't5quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we6needed twenty dozen. I was completely frustrated and7. Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, “If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves!” Dad8“Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we're9. ” Such is Dad—whatever problem he10he never gives up.

    11the disastrous effects of the drought were felt all over our country. It was a challenging time for everyone,12Dad remained optimistic. He13to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plates. Only then did I truly begin to14Dad and his faith guided us through the hard times.

    Dad is also a living example of real15From dawn to dark, he works countless hours to16our family. He always puts our happiness17his own, and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games18his exhaustion after long days. His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic and19, putting others first.

    Dad, the life20I have learned from you will stay with me forever. You are my father, teacher, friend and, most importantly, my hero.

    The accident happened on a Sepember night in 2013. A vehicle struck my car from behind 1 I was driving home. At the hospital. the doctors 2 I was a quadriplegic(四肢瘫痪者) and told me I wasn't going to be able to move anything from my neck 3. I had lost the 4 of almost every muscle and was very weak.

    I realized that my life was 5.My head 6 like a heavy ball and I couldn't hold it up. I was unable to use a phone, and unable to 7 or wash myself. I couldn't grasp anything: a fork or spoon was too 8 to pick up.

    However, I saw a glimpse 9 and was inspired by other patients with 10 like mine in the recovery center. The first year was slow and I didn't see much 11. But I had to learn to be 12 with myself and to enjoy every 13 going forward. I was determined to walk again, so giving up was no longer a(n) 14. I struggled hard on my recovery(康复) and still do to this day. I'm now moving my 15 and arms on my own, doing things like swimming and yoga. All of this is 16 my doctor's wrong, and is turning the page from the impossible to the possible.

    My family, friends and team encourage me to 17 to work harder. I believe that this difficulty is an opportunity to 18 and become stronger. I'm sure my story will inspire others not to 19. If I learned one 20 from my car accident, it's this: Never give up on hope.

    When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student, I believed I could1tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he2in class.

    When I took the first exam, I was3to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper,4English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained5.

    I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that6because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I7with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his8.

    One more test before the final exam. One more9to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time,10the meaning of the word “thorough”. But my11did no good and everything12as before.

    The last hurdle(障碍) was the final. No matter what13I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the14goodbye.

    I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even15myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have16with a test.

    A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into professor Jayne's office. He17to be expecting me. “If I gave you the As you18, you wouldn't continue to work as hard.”

    I stared at him,19that his analysis and strategy(策略) were correct. I had worked my head20, as I had never done before.

    I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.

    Donald lived in three different foster homes and changed schools with each move. The experience left him 1and often dropping out of school, making Donald lose all 2for school. Then he 3 Mr. Felipe, the CIS site coordinator (协调员) at his school.

    Mr. Felipe 4 developed a plan to meet Donald's needs. He 5 school supplies and clothes for Donald and encouraged him to join the schools karate (空手道) program. After months of working with Mr. Felipe, Donald's 6 changed. He became more 7and optimistic. He 8 making friends at school and building 9 with his teachers and classmates. Meanwhile, his grades 10 as well.

    "My mom has 11 that my attitude has changed a lot, and my grades are much better too. I like to come to the CIS classroom because it is 12 to be here. Mr. Felipe gives us snacks and provides school supplies for us. We work in the garden and we get the 13 we need to study and do our homework. I feel happy and motivated when I come to this 14."

    For Donald, Mr. Felipe is the person who changed his life. "I was in foster care when I was 4-5 years old and was 15 from my brother for part of the time. I'm back with my family now and happy to have them in my 16," said Donald. "But I still 17 that time and the bad depression I felt. At school, art and football helped me forget and let it all 18. It is Mr. Felipe who helped me when I was 19. Because of him I became more serious about 20 and work in general. "

    Mr. Jones had always wanted to make a trip into the middle of Africa to shoot wild animals.1his wife had not wanted him to2her. At last his wife agreed to the trip if he allowed her to go, too.

    "But it will be very uncomfortable," Mr. Jones3her. "It will be very hot and we shall live in a tent and it4be dangerous."

    "I don't care," said his wife." I want to go with you". So they bought a big tent, camp beds and many other things which would make the trip comfortable, and went off to the5of Africa.

    The first morning,6Mr. Jones took his gun and left the tent, he7his wife a bell and explained to her," If you feel in8and you need me, ring this bell and I'll come at once. "

    After a few minutes, he heard the bell and returned quickly to the tent. "What's the matter?" he asked. "9" said his wife, "I was only trying the bell."

    Mr. Jones went off, but after a quarter of an hour, the bell rang10. Mr. Jones hurried back to the tent, but his wife said, "I'm11but I was cleaning our tent, and I knocked the bell over 12."

    Mr. Jones returned to his hunting(打猎) but soon he heard the bell once more. This time, when he got back to his13, the tent was burning and Mrs. Jones was lying on the ground, 14 blood running from a big cut on her shoulder, "That's better!" said Mr. Jones. "This time the bell had been used 15!"

    Growing up in Kenya was amazing because I learned so much, though the poverty and lack of resources were sometimes frustrating. I knew I didn't have much, but I was 1.

    There was only one thing I wasn't happy with: 2. I wanted to go to high school and university. I had the drive, the will and the grades, 3 I didn't have the resources. Even 4 things like food, water and shelter weren't readily available. Young people in poverty have little or no 5 to high schools and universities. Where I lived, it was challenging 6 someone helped. When I left primary school, I was in the same 7 as many other poor disadvantaged youth. 8, during that year, a charitable high school for girls, Starehe Girls Centre, was 9 and I received a scholarship. Today, I am 10 record as being the first student to be enrolled in this school.

    In 2006, my school 11 The Global Give Back Circle, a not-for-profit organization for 12 disadvantaged girls to complete their education and gain 13 skills. After graduating from high school, I was given access to a nine-month IT course. 14, its give-back attitude had taught us to not only care about ourselves but other people. With this in mind, 10 of us created a website called "Hey Sister, Get Clued-Up". Through this educational website, aimed at networking 10,000 African 15 worldwide, all Sisters commit to sending information to their villages. This can be to 16 financial freedom, advance information  17  to health issues and provide knowledge about social networking behavior.

    "Hey Sister, Get Clued-Up" is only 18  to those girls who can access the Internet, which highlights the huge challenge in 19 the divide between the haves and have-nots. But our plan is that these girls will  20 what they learn to other girls through the "power of their voice".