My parents passed away ten years ago and I miss them terribly. But I know they are with me every day in what they taught me and in the 1 they gave me. Every morning my father's message to me was: Remember that 2 you walk out of this door, you carry responsibility, the good name of this family, the hopes and dreams of your mom and dad. My mother often urged me to3 the high standards she set for me.

    When I was in high school, I played in a rock band with friends in my class. We were devoted and practiced constantly. We moved past the guys - in - a - garage stage and 4 to be pretty good, doing getting - paid gigs (演奏会) most weekends, which made me 5 At that time, though part of me was 6 up in that band, another part of me was the oldest son in the Clark family,7 of my origin and a dedicated student busy applying to colleges. Without even telling my parents, I applied to Harvard. I didn't think I had much chance of getting in,8I wanted to try. So I was riding around being Mr Cool Rock Musician half of the time, and the other half I was focused on family and 9 goals. I was running on parallel 10

    When the group won a city wide Battle of the Bands, things heated up. My band mates had stars in their eyes - we might be able to make it big. However, I began to feel 11 I realized I was on quite different tracks: I 12 was becoming two people,13 identities back and forth depending on who I was with. I had to make an option. As I considered my 14 my parents' words were right there, helping me to see that my dreams weren't about signing a record deal, letting my hair grow, and living in a tour bus. So I 15 out. My bandmasters were 16. They thought I was crazy to withdraw 17the peak of real success. But however successful that band got, I knew it wasn't in line with my 18 with my feeling of what I was 19 to do, with who I was - it simply wasn't me.

    In that instant and in many others throughout my life, my parent's advice has helped me recenter and 20 I could remember who I was - the hopes and dreams I carried.

    At the funeral, I tried to say good-bye to Grandpa, but all I could do was feel bad. Most of the adults were busy 1to one another. They didn't talk about Grandpa. Afterward, I kept my grandpa 2in my mind by talking about him3. I was afraid if I might 4him. I told everyone he died. One day when I was with my mother in a 5, I told the check-out lady. When we got outside, my mother hugged me close and told me not to tell 6 about Grandpa's death. Then I realized that there were other ways I could remember him.

    I planted a tree in our backyard, in7of Grandpa. The stars made me feel 8. I'd choose a star in the sky and 9it was Grandpa 10. In school, my teacher suggested that I write stories and draw pictures. The more I wrote and the more I drew, the more I 11about Grandpa and me.

I gave my favorite12to the library in memory of my Grandpa. The librarian wrote his name on a special label and put it 13. I used to 14the book. It wasn't 15the shelf, I was happy 16was reading "my grandpa's book."

    17, I was working hard in school and having fun with my friends again. I can't remember everything about my grandpa,18every once in a while, someone or something 19me of him. The memories feel warm and good. Now I know, and I want you to know, the best 20are like love. They last forever.

    The news of Stephen Hawking's death came a great shock to the whole world. To his family, he was “a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy（遗赠）will 1 for many years”.

    His parents, both Oxford graduates, placed a high  2 on education and family members were often seen reading books at dinner. 3 known at school as “Einstein”, Hawking was not 4 successful academically. With time, he began to show talents for scientific subjects and decided to read  5 at university. As mathematics was not  6at Oxford then, Hawking chose physics instead.

    Diagnosed with a rare motor neurone disease, Hawking eventually 7 a wheelchair. Though shocked and bitter, Hawking continued his work in physics  8. After the loss of his  9, he communicated through a speech-generating device, which  10 him to produce A Brief History of Time with the help of an assistant.

    Hawking once  11how he felt when first informed of his disease,  12 that he would never realize his potential. “But now, 50 years later, I  13 be more satisfied with my life,” he said.

    Hawking also gained popularity  14 the academic world and appeared in several TV shows. He was featured in the film The Theory of Everything, which  15 his rise to fame and relationship with his first wife, Jane.

    Prof James Hartle, who once worked with him ,praised his unique ability to see through all the clutter（混乱）in physics and get to the  16.” My 17 of him would be…first as a scientist and, second, as a human being whose story is a victory  18 misfortune, which inspired a lot of people.” Prof Jim Al-Khalili pictured Hawking as a  19 person. “He was a fun loving guy. Inside that paralyzed body was someone full of  20 for life,” he said.

    All of us can give others a hand as long as we are willing to do so. Actually, there are some people doing kind things all the time. Spreading kindness, one good deed at a time, is Karla Gibson's mission. "I wish everyone could join me, 1 there are so many bad things going on in the world; I mean every day," said Karla.

    Karla had the2 and sense of duty in December of 2013. The single mother of three said she tended to feel down around the holidays, so she 3 to do something to cheer others up. She started a Facebook page and 4 her good deeds each day, from feeding the homeless to giving Easter gifts to prisoners. She hoped to 5 others.

    "We have to do something. Our 6 can make a difference in someone's day. You 7 know when someone might be having their worst day, and then something like buying them a coffee can change their whole attitude," Karla 8.

    Karla's greatest 9 had to do with coffee. On September 27^th, Karla's birthday, she went to her local Starbucks and gave the 10 $127 to pay for other people's drinks. She sat at the end of the drive-thru(汽车餐厅)holding a 11 reading "Have a great day." She ended up 12 about 23 customers. "It was really fun. It was 13one of the best birthdays ever," she said. Her kindness that day didn't go 14. One couple was so grateful that they surprised her with flowers and balloons to show their 15.

    Karla's acts of kindness have become a 16affair. Her two sons are always 17 others. "Sometimes I'll ask Kyle, 'So, did you do anything extra nice today?' and he would say 'Somebody 18 something in the hallway and I picked it up' or 'I held the door for someone', that kind of thing," said Karla.

    It's because of Mom that the boys think it's 19 to give a hand to others. "I think it's a great idea of hers. It's always nice to help someone out especially when they are going through 20 things," said Karla's 15-year-old son Chad.

    Until a few years ago, I had what most people would call a good life. I had a 1job that paid the bills; I had a good family that I was close to, and I had a place to live and money in the bank for trips and 2, and there was nothing much wrong in my life.3, I was bored.

    I wanted 4. I wanted to live brightly and loudly and make sharp memories instead of the 5 ones of everyday life. But I was 6. I've never had any7in myself. As a child, even buying something in a shop caused me a great deal of 8, and even though I did get better as I got older, I never really9 that childhood shyness.

    And I tried everything, like reading books about confidence. I took tiny steps leading to my goals. But none of them really10.

    So I 11 that the small steps weren't enough. I signed up for an internship（实习期）teaching English in Vietnam, an12 huge step, one that13 me as much as it excited me. And then the day came and I left my home and my loved one. I was alone in a country where the food was14 and the streets were dirty. I had no idea whether I would be able to 15everything this very strange environment would16 at me.

    I spent five months in Vietnam, teaching and exploring and laughing. I'd learned to 17 myself, my skills, my abilities and my decisions. I returned home 18, even to myself, let alone to others. The19 that had controlled my life and the self-doubt completely20.

    That one big chance changed everything for me, and in me.

He Had a Go

    It was a cool spring evening in Melbourne, Australia. I drove to my boxing gym for a Friday night training session. After1up, I started training. Then I noticed a tall and slim young man walking through the doors. There was something about him that caught my2.

    Before long, I realized that he might have a mental illness. Having volunteered for mental illness support groups, I really3his problems when I looked at him.

    He paid for the session, put on a pair of gloves and then started hitting the punching bags. I watched him from a4 and wanted to help him to punch straighter and better. Then I felt it was best to leave that up to the trainer who was 5watching him.

    After a few seconds of punching the bag, he stopped and started staring at the   6.The trainer went up to him and 7to help him. It was almost like he woke up from a dream. He8 eye contact with the ceiling at once.

    Then the bell rang and it was the end of the round.9 rounds we are required to do five push-ups(俯卧撑),10all the boys that were training that night did five push-ups. He11to complete his five push-ups. The bell sounded again and the next round began. He punched the bags for a few seconds and then he12. This time he was taring at the walls which were decorated with boxing posters.

    It was clear to me that he could not 13for long.

    When I finished training, I decided to go to him and offer him my help. I held the bag for him and asked him to punch. He14 the bag a few times and then stopped again.

    I smiled at him and asked, "Do you like boxing?"

    He replied with a very shy 15on his face, "Yes, boxing is alright."

    What else could I do than16 this man and his willingness to give it a go? Most people put self-imposed(自我强加的)17on their lives and stop themselves from having a go. I kept thinking about this man while admiring him for even turning up to a boxing gym, let alone training at what appeared to be his18

    There are many lessons to learn from this man. What I19admired about this man was that he had a go! That is what20ordinariness from greatness.

So what will you have a go at?