Dad was not only my best friend, but my compass (指南针). While he was alive, he1 me with his actions and advice. He taught me one important 2: “Believe in yourself.”

    If there was one phrase my dad 3liked to hear, it was “I can't.” He never got to finish high school and 4 two jobs to support his large family, 5 he never complained. Through education and years of hard work, my dad became an excellent journalist.

    When I was in high school, I had a 6time with math. He tried to help me, but I 7 struggled. So my math teacher suggested I meet with him at 7:00 each morning before school for 8 help. I told Dad, “That's9! I'm tired! I can't do that!” He replied, “You're doing it. I'll send you to school.” Every morning at 6:45, we'd leave the10. Despite (尽管) working 12 hours every day, Dad never once11 driving me to school.

    After months of12, I was facing the final exam. I was so13. On the day of the final, my dad hugged me and said, “Luke, 14yourself. You can do it.” His words made me realize I needed to trust in my15 and in the hours of work I'd 16. When I got my17 proudly, the first person I called was my father. He cried, “Yes! You deserved it!”

    Even now, whenever I18 that a task is too much for me, I think back to that exam. No matter how 19something is, if you're willing to work, you can succeed. I'm forever20 to Dad for that lesson.

    One weekend, my kids and I were heading into the supermarket. On the way, we 1 a man holding a piece of paper that said, “Lost my job. Family to Feed.”

    At this store, a 2 like this is not normal. My 10-year-old noticed him and made a 3 on how bad it must be to have to stand 4 in the cold wind.

    In the store, I asked each of my kids to pick something they thought our “friend” there would 5. They got apples, a sandwich and a bottle of juice. Then my 17-year-old suggested giving him a6. I thought about it. We were low on cash ourselves, but… well, sometimes giving from our need 7 our abundance (充裕；丰富) is just what we need to do! All the kids declared something they could do away with for the week.

    When we handed him the bag of 8, he lit up and thanked us with 9 eyes. When I handed him the gift card, saying he could use it for 10  his family might need, he burst into tears.

    This has been a wonderful 11 for our family. For days the kids have been looking for others we can 12 ! Things would have played out so 13 if I had simply said, “No, we really don't have 14 to give more.” Stepping out not only helped a brother in need, it also gave my kids the 15 taste of helping others. It'll go a long way with them.

    When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student, I believed I could 1 tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he 2 in class.

    When I took the first exam, I was 3 to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper,  4 English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained 5.

    I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that 6 because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I 7 with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his 8.

    One more test before the final exam. One more 9 to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time，10 the meaning of the word “thorough”. But my 11 did no good and everything 12as 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 the 14 goodbye.

    I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even 15 myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have 16with a test.

    A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into professor Jayne's office. He 17 to be expecting me. “If I gave you the As you 18, you wouldn't continue to work as hard.”

    I stared at him 19 that his analysis and strategy were correct. I had worked my head 20, 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.

    The day I received my letter of acceptance to New York University, I was extremely excited. It was my dream university, and my1were pleased for me. But they also hadn't2me to get into such a competitive school. In fact, the best thing they ever did for me was to3me from doing things4—indeed, when I was in elementary school, they offered to buy me a present5I got a C.

    It6when I was in third grade. An only child in an Asian family, I had just7with my family from Taiwan to Los Angeles. Months into third grade, I developed a strong feeling of8about getting bad grades. Seeing my anxiety, Dad said, "Kate, tell you what. If you get a C or9, I'll buy you a present. If you score higher than that, I won't buy you anything, because you won't10it."

    Clearly my dad wasn't the11Asian tiger parent, pressuring me to work tirelessly for the best12, and neither was my mom. They didn't want to push me. They wanted me to be13and healthy. Dad's14of a "failing grade" gift amazingly15my worries and pressure. What's more，I16getting A's and B's throughout high school, but without the added stress and fear of failing. I think it was my parents' lack of stress on grades that gave me17to encourage my own desire for achievements.

    I now realize I was18when I thought I didn't receive a present from my dad that day. He gave me two invaluable19: the space to develop my own desire for excellence, and the healthy mind to20it.

    Harper, a third- grade teacher in Southwest Washington D.C, was named the city's teacher of the year and is one of four finalists(决赛选手)in the national1. No teacher in D.C. has ever won the national2since 2005.

    "When I got the call I was so surprised. I was like, Wow, are you3?" said Harper, whose school4students who are mostly black and from low-income families. "But I'm5, being able to share my students' amazing stores. ''

    Harper studied law in college but became interested in6After she graduated in 2012, she decided to teach for a public school7her father left the same school. Her father8dropped out of school, but teachers pulled him back in. Finally he9school and became a business owner.

    "I can't imagine if someone had10my dad," Harper often said.

Like her father's11Harper believes every child has the possibility to learn at high levels and she pushes them to reach those12. Her goal is to build a classroom full of confident 8-years old who won't doubt their13.

    Teaching is painstaking but Harper has no plans to14the classroom. She wants to develop her15skills, continue learning from other teachers and keep improving. Her16goal—maybe in 20 years —is to17more students as the country's education secretary(部长).18 ， her focus now is placed on the students she teaches each day.

    "I want my students to know that I19them and I wish them to take an active part in the classroom" she said. "The more they know you care, the more likely they will be20."

An entire American town gathered together to buy a new car for Peters, a pizza deliveryman for 31 years. They wanted to give him an incredible1

Though it may be not a2career, Peters knows he's3his suited position. "There were people in my family that were like, maybe you should consider your4stability a little more," he said. "But it's my purpose in life-trying to make people5. You know, when you're delivering to somebody, you may be the only face they6all day. "

Whenever folks saw Peters and his 28 -year -old Oldsmobile7their way, they knew they would be served with a8. Langley, one of Peters' longtime9customers said, "He's a very10individual. We call him ‘Mr. Smiley.' Learning that, he turned to the community to11Peters. It would guarantee he 12 his appointed routine.

Within three days they13$19,000，enough to buy Peters a new car to see him through a lot more

14. It felt almost like a15when he first learned his loyal customers were16a car to him. He'll remember the awesome experience for the rest of his life. He's simply17. He just hopes that all those who made this happen will be18.

Every time the guy19his loyal customers with a smile，so the community's generous show of gratitude came as no surprise. "That's the type of20he has on people," Langley, who's been having pizzas delivered by Peters for 20 years，said.