How an undergraduate raised her sister and mother alone

    For many undergraduates, finding a job or getting1education is a trouble at their age. However, a Henan girl faced more urgent and bigger issues when it came to job or further studies, because she had to help her family2before graduating from college.

    Liu Jiaojiao, 26, was born in a village of Luyi county in Zhoukou city, Central China's Henan province. After3in 2014, she chose to be a teacher in a middle school in her hometown, so she could4her paralyzed mother.

    Up to now,5the only bread-earner in the family, Liu has taken care of her mother who6from cerebral infarction(脑梗塞) for five years. She has remained7and strong to overcome the challenges of life,8complain about her fate.

    In 2010, after finishing the college entrance examination, Liu was told that her father was9with esophageal cancer(食道癌) six months ago. Then her father was dead about one year later.

    "My grandmother was over 70 years old, and my sister was still in high school at that time, which left my mother and me to10the family," Liu said.

    Hou Panzhi, 50, Liu's mother, has been suffering from mental illness for a long time. Liu said: "She could say something to encourage me at the beginning; I did not feel alone at that time."

    In order to11money, she spent less than 10 yuan ($1.5) every day. Besides doing some part-time jobs at the college, she also worked in other southern cities such as Guangzhou and Hangzhou in the summer and winter12.

    However, Huo's13got worse in 2012; she suffered with cerebral infarction and became paralyzed. Liu then rented a house for her mother to take care of her while going to school nearby.

    The teachers organized a donation and formed a volunteer team to help her. Liu also14a scholarship at school.

    "I told myself that I am not15, there are many people around me. I had a strong16to support my family," Liu said. However, it was hard. She added: The most 17time was when I was sick at school."

    Now, she works hard to strike a balance to take care of her mother and to teach students.

    "I would like to tell my mother what happened in my math class after school, I feel she could hear it sometimes," she said with a smile. "I also buy an electro-tricycle two month ago, taking my mother to go outside."

    She often18the photos with her mother on her WeChat, saying that wherever she is with her mom is home.

    "Life is much better than before, I have a job, and my sister has grown up, we have become stronger and most confident than before," she added.

    In July, Liu was nominated as a(an)19of the "National Moral Models" this year, which encourages and guides the young people to cherish the time with parents and have a sense of20.

    My father enjoys bike riding. Ever since I was little, I have always loved going biking with my dad.1 as I became a teenager, other things began to draw my 2It became important to do things with friends3I saw my dad every evening at home. Why did I have to4my Sundays to all-day bike trips with him, too? If my indifference(冷漠的) hurt him, my father kept5 but he would always let me know when he was planning a bike trip6I wanted to come with him.

    It was a Sunday morning, and I was in low 7 Two of my friends had gone to the movies without inviting me. Just then my father8my room.“It is a beautiful day. Want to go for a9today, Beck?” “Leave me alone!” I impatiently10 Those were the last words I said to him before he left the house that 11.

    Several hours later, the police called us, informing(告知) us that Dad had a traffic 12My father's injuries were serious. It 13 several days before he could eventually(最后) speak. Beside his bed，I held his hand gently，14of hurting him. “Daddy… I am sorry…” “ It's okay, my dear, I'll be okay.”

    “No,” I said, “I 15 what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?”

    “My dear, I don't16anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember kissing you good night the night before, though.” He 17a weak smile.

    I felt regretful for my thoughtless remark(话语)，for I 18wanted him to leave me alone in my heart. My teacher once told me that19have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the 20to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on.

    People in the world sometimes are affected by natural disasters. When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, Reader's Digest wrote about impressive rescues. The spirit of serving can be incredibly 1. Here is a story from Annalysa Longworth, a survivor of Hurricane Maria, in her own 2 .

    “The total 36 hours of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was 3 the scariest event we've ever gone through. Our house sits on the north-west coast of Rinc6n. In the 4 , over 100 mph winds changed direction causing a great amount of water flooding our 5 . The only place left dry and safe was our kitchen floor, where we were 6 to ride out the rest of the storm. It has been 50 days since the 7 , and we are still without power and water. During our regular afternoon showers, we are glad to 8 rainwater but are quickly reminded of the people living without roofs, and how 9 it must be for them. Our emotions are consistently in a state of 10.

    Recently, our good friends told us about a video interview they were doing with Watts of Love, a solar light company. The company generously gave us a headlamp for our personal 11 and a box with 50 headlamps to distribute throughout our town. Rincón was completely blacked out, so making a simple walk through a parking lot to our car is 12 . We used to rush to get things done before 13 , but now I continue daily chores in the dark. What 14 our lives most was being able to share this gift with others. We 15 the lamps house by house to the people in the mountains who needed them most, as even batteries and candles are 16there. Even though 17 have come slowly, people have been out of work and can't afford to 18 their electric bill. I'11 always be 19 to Watts of Love for allowing us to pay it forward and be witnesses to the smiles that 20 can bring. ”

    On a trip to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the 1 to the restaurant, a man, with a 2 beard (胡须) and dirty hair, jumped up from a bench(长凳)and opened the door for us and 3 us in a friendly way.

    Once inside, my daughters whispered, "Mom, he 4." After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look 5 the appearance. The day I became a mother, I had made my mind to set a good 6 for my children. Yet sometimes when things didn't go right, being a good example was 7. When our meal arrived, I 8 I had left the car－sick pills in the truck. With the most winding trip ahead, the 9 needed them, so I went for them.

    Just then, the "doorman" was opening the door for a couple. They rushed past him without even noticing him. Letting them in first, I said a loud "thank you" to him as I 10.

    When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside unless he bought 11. I went back and told my family his12. Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich. The kids looked    13 as we had already eaten, but when I said the order was for the "doorman", they smiled. When it was time to 14 our trip, I noticed the "doorman" enjoying his meal. Upon 15 me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then 16 out his hand for a handshake and I gratefully 17. I suddenly noticed his tears in eyes.

    Back in, I fell into deep thought. 18 we can't choose many things in life, we can choose when to show thanks. I said thanks to a man who had 19 held open a door for me, and also said thanks for that 20 to teach my children by example.

     For a long time, I thought a present and a gift were no different. I grew up in a household where presents 1 special occasions, say there were always presents for Christmas and our birthdays.

     So when I married Gary who did not give presents on a 2 basis, I had to make an adjustment. Gary did not wholly avoid gift-giving, though. 3 noticing how many hours I spend on the 4. he brought home a shoulder pad (垫肩）for the telephone receiver. But mostly, he 5 holidays, let alone shop for earrings to 6 to me showing his affection.

    I tried to change Kim 7. I bought books for his birthdays and knitted him hats and sweaters for Christmas. 8I began to tell him what I wanted, giving 9 instructions, but got nowhere.

    Last year when the snowstorm 10 our town and he was on business, I used his present—road scraper (铲土机)to11 both our drive and our neighbor's, thinking how12 earrings would have been. Gary had wisely chosen not the thing I 13, but the thing that he knew I would need.

    I 14 began to understand the difference between a present and a gift. A present is just a thing. But a gift is broader and often cannot be 15. It is a small act of kindness, the 16to bend to another's needs, the sacrifice of time and effort.17 is a gift. Any expression of it, freely given, is a(n) 18 from the heart that is immeasurably better than a present.

    My insistence on presents must have seemed to Gary a lack of 19 for the gifts he had been giving all along, but he never stopped giving them.

    Gary will be home this Christmas, but I don't 20 a present. I already have the greatest gift.

    One sunny afternoon, a seven-year-old girl went for a walk. She crossed a large area of grassland into the woods 1 she realized that she was lost.

    Sitting on a rock and 2 what to do, she began crying. After a while, She 3 to walk along a wide path lined with tall trees and thick bushes. 4 it was getting dark, she saw a small, dark wooden house. She opened the door and 5 stepped in. Suddenly, she heard a strange noise, and she ran out of the door and back to the 6 . Cold and tired, she fell asleep near a 7.

    The girl's parents were out and her dog, Laddy, was at home. Laddy 8 that his mistress was in danger. He jumped 9 a window, breaking the glass. He looked in the fields. But he couldn't find his mistress anywhere. However, from the ground came a10 scent (气味) as he lowered his head. He 11 the scent and walked across the grassland. Barking 12 into the air, the dog 13 through the woods until he found the 14. But the girl was not there, so he headed back to the woods. Much to his 15, he saw his mistress' blue shirt in the distance. He 16 over some bushes and saw the little stream, where the girl was 17.

    When she opened her eyes and18her dog standing beside her, the girl said, "you19me, Laddy," and she kissed him several times. Seeing their daughter and dog coming back, the parents burst into tears of 20. That night Laddy had a hero's supper: a huge meal of steak.