“The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was definitely a life changing experience,” says Alaa. “I had lots of 1 and expectations when I left Jordan and headed to Chicago to become a YES program particpant."

    During it, Alaa had the chance to be a part of two wonderful host families. “I 2a lot by living with my host families,” says Alaa “The first one was a single older person that 3me to most of American cultures. My second family was kind enough to have me stay at their house and 4 me like one of their own kids. I am 5 both host families forever.”

    6Alaa learned a lot from her host families, she realized that 7 a new culture and new family comes with its own growing pains.

    “There was a huge 8 between me and my first host mom,” says Alaa. “She worked all the time,9 I was expecting her to interact with more peole. But that was too 10She goes her own way”

    “The education system we have in Jordan is quite different from here, so the 11 to the education system was hard too. I went to Schaumburg High School, where everything was so organized and the teachers were so nice. I started an Arabic program12the gifted students in the school,” states Alaa. With my assistance, they13to know the beauty of my language. By the end of the year, I received Christmas card from the students with their names and 14 in Arabic. To my 15in no time they 16 were able to talk to me in Arabic without difficulty.”

    “My YES program was soon17” Alaa said. “But it had a deep18on me.” Thanks to the YES program, Alaa had conquered fears.19 new skills, and finally changed the course of her life forever. “I don't let anything get in the20of achieving my dreams.” says Alaa.

    My most rewarding experience throughout the past two years was volunteering at the swimming competition for Special Olympics where a disabled friend of my community took part. This had special1for me because experiencing it helped improve my leadership skills, develop my character, and support my community.

    Firstly, my 2skills developed when I independently directed each swimmer where to3 at the platform and4 each competitor when they needed to swim. I had to make sure that the swimmers were5 and ready to perform. This kept me on my feet at all times and6 of each event's time and location. I learned each swimmer's name7 many of them swam in more than one event.

    Secondly, my8was greatly influenced. When I saw the swimmers get their awards for winning each swimming event, I was deeply moved. I was 9that most swimmers could swim better than I. Their10attitudes astonished me, whether they won or lost. This also enlarged my view, offering me the opportunity to11people I would normally not run into. I went out of my12zone and did whatever was needed to be done, even if it was sometimes difficult to me. It was especially13when I saw the glowing faces of the competitors.

    Lastly, I was of14to my community by lending a hand to this organization. To be a part of it gave me a chance to improve my community and become15with the people living in this area.

    As Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we do, but we make a(n)16 by what we give.” The importance of17should be stressed throughout your life18 through the many opportunities my community has offered I was privileged to be19in this exciting and important event in these competitors' lives. I hope to be a(n)20 again at this event in years to come.

    No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own 1.

    I learned this lesson from a(n) 2many years ago. I took the head 3 job at a school in Baxley, Georgia. It was a small school with a weak football program.

    It was a tradition for the school's old team to play against the 4 team at the end of spring practice. The old team had no coach, and they didn't even practice to 5 the game. Being the coach of the new team, I was excited because I knew we were going to win, but to my disappointment we were defeated. I couldn't 6 I had got into such a situation. Thinking hard about it, I came to 7 that my team might not be the number one team in Georgia, but they were 8 me. I had to change my 9 about their ability and potential.

    I started doing anything I could to help them build a little 10. Most important, I began to treat them like 11. That summer, when the other teams enjoyed their 12, we met every day and 13 passing and kicking the football.

    Six months after suffering our 14 on the spring practice field, we won our first game and our second, and continued to 15. Finally, we faced the number one team in the state. I felt that it would be a 16 for us even if we lost the game. But that wasn't what happened. My boys beat the best team in Georgia, giving me one of the greatest 17 of my life!

    From the experience I learned a lot about how the attitude of the leader can 18 the members of a team. Instead of seeing my boys as losers, I pushed and 19 them. I helped them to see themselves 20, and they built themselves into winners.

    Winners are made, not born.

Joy to the World

    Lights, decorations and Christmas trees filled the stores. Many people were there   because Christmas was only two days 1.

    Thirteen-year-old Joy had just 2 her Christmas shopping. Joy went out of the store and 3 her classmate, Nick, the least 4 student in school, who wore strange clothing and had a face only a mother could love.

    "What are you doing for Christmas?" said Nick with a smile that showed all his yellow teeth.

    "I'm buying presents and having dinner with my 5 ," said Joy, trying to be polite. "What about you?"

    "My parents are away," he said. "I live with my uncle, who doesn't like me very much."

    Joy wasn't sure how to 6, so she said goodbye with an awkward(尴尬的) smile. She felt sorry for Nick since he must feel 7. But it wasn't really her problem.

    On Christmas Eve, Joy's family were busy around 8 for the holiday. Joy's parents were cooking in the kitchen. Joy was a child for holiday cheer, dancing around the house.

    After dinner, the family got into their car and 9to church for the Christmas Eve service. When they walked into the old building, they were 10 by the flow of beautiful songs. A man stood up with Bible and 11 the story Joy had learned on her mother's knee. It was about a baby named Jesus who came to live on Earth to help people who 12 him.

    Joy's thoughts kept turning back to Nick. It must be 13 to be lonely on Christmas, a day that celebrated God's Son coming to Earth. Tears started to run down her 14, but she brushed them away.

    Joy lay awake that night 15 everyone else was sleeping like a baby. She was thinking of ways to help Nick. 16 she heard parents get up, she jumped out of bed. She found them in the kitchen and told them about Nick. Then she asked, "Can we invite him 17 today?" "Sure," answered Joy's mother, who was always happy when 18 came. Her father smiled.

    When Joy called Nick later that day, he was excited. After getting his uncle's 19he joined them for dinner. To her surprise, Joy enjoyed spending time with him.

    Joy came to understand 20 Christmas cheer is a joy to Nick, even to the whole world.

    It was Sunday and I was returning from my sister's place. I left1thinking that I might get a seat in the metro (地铁) and it would be a rather easy2. But since my bad luck was3me everywhere, I couldn't get a seat. I4and made my way straight to the end of the compartment. I5there leaning on the side rails. I was feeling very6about myself.

    After few7I got a seat. Just then, entered a8lady supported by the metro staff and she sat next to me. I helped her out of the wheelchair and made her sit. I9my MP4 player and pushed the earpieces just to keep all the10thoughts from my head. Just then I heard the lady calling me. She introduced herself to me and asked about me. I11my best possible smile and answered that much only and pushed 12my earpieces.

    She went on13and I had to take out my earpieces and keep them back in my bag. She told me she was a student at Ramakrishna Mission Ashram and goes there14. It gives her peace and strength. The strength to keep going15her to enjoy the human life as much as possible. She then gave me one of Swami's16and also recited some of verses. She kept on talking for the most of the time and I was very17listening to her.

    We were so busy in talking that we didn't even18our names and I didn't notice it until we came to our train station and we went our ways.19she left, I opened the booklet she gave and read inspirational20. There and then, I understood that whatever may come, it should not hamper our hopes and our expectations.

    The first time 10-year-old Jordie Rowland came into the barber shop, it was a disaster.

    Jordie, who has autism (自闭症), 1 with his parents to run outside the moment he entered the shop. I ended up 2 around the shop with him that day. I got in a few cuts 3 stopped the haircut when I saw Jordie was 4. Cutting hair can be 5 for some children with autism. Jordie was no different. I felt I'd 6 and it made me 7 to learn more about autism so I could connect with him and take away his 8.

    After the first 9 haircut, I suggested to Jordie's parents they bring him back every two weeks at closing time. That went on for a few months. His hair was long. I could 10 cut it properly. I'd get a couple of cuts in, and then he'd just go crazy. That was a really 11 time. But I knew we had to just keep going.

    I even went to his house to give it a try. No 12. Then the owner of the barber shop 13 me for allowing a customer to come in after closing time. Discouraged, I 14 that job, and soon opened my own shop. Every two weeks, Jordie would 15 my shop after it was closed. This lasted about eight months.

    A few weeks ago, we made 16. I sang "The Wheels on the Bus" to him. I didn't know he was 17 nursery rhymes (儿歌). I was just trying to 18 him. He looked at me as if he were mesmerized (迷住). I gave him a full haircut for the first time. I realized our slow, two-year effort had 19.

    Two weeks later, Jordie let me do it again. I often don't charge them the cost of the haircut. Maybe the reason I do something like this is to increase my 20 of the kids like him.