I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn't like attention drawn to myself.And1otherwise assigned（指定）a seat by the teacher,I always2to sit at the back of the classroom.

    All this3after I joined a sports team.It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team.At first I thought it was a crazy4because I didn't have a good sense of balance,nor did I have the5to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me.But for the teacher who kept insisting on my "6for it",I wouldn't have decided to give a try.

Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts（选拔）was only the7of it!When I first started8the practice sessions,I didn't even know the rules of the game,much9what I was doing.Sometimes I'd get10and take a shot at the wrong direction which made me feel really stupid.11,I wasn't the only one "new" at the game,so I decided to12on learning the game,do my best at each practice session,and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn't 13"just yet".

    I practiced and practiced.Soon I knew the14and the "moves".Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive15in me was winning over my lack of confidence.With time,I learned how to play and made friends in the16—friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player.I never had so much fun!

    With my17self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates.I have gone from "18" in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself,19raising my hand—even when I sometimes wasn't and not 100 percent20I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.

    It was a hot summer day. The sun was shining brightly and all I could think of was1down with a scoop of my favorite ice cream. I decided to make a quick2to the newly opened ice cream parlor(冰淇淋店) close by for a mid-day 3.

I ordered my ice cream in a fancy cone and asked the server to4two tubs of chocolate ice cream for folks at home.

    5I knew it, I was halfway 6my icy treat and was enjoying the view of the two colorfully prepared ice cream flavors, sitting pretty one next to the7.

    Now that my to-go order was8 I headed to the payment counter to settle the bill9 the cashier (收银员) had forgotten to bill my ice cream,10only for the two tubs.

    The next few11passed by as I debated between doing what was12— clearing the bill and moving out, and doing what was right —13the error. I knew if I didn't bring the error in the bill to his 14 my ice cream would be charged against his 15.

    That moment, my decision was made and I went and told him16he had missed.

    He looked at me in17and thanked me profusely for telling the error. Had it not been for my18 telling the error, he would have been fined. The smile of relief on his face made me smile, too.

    I came out of the ice cream parlor feeling really19 about myself. I knew that day how wonderful it feels to do what is right20what is easy.

    It was pouring rain. I was starving and decided to1to a McDonald's near a hospital. When I went to order, I saw a young man, about 20, dirty, and2He had a loosely wrapped dirty bandage around his right hand; I noticed this3I am a nurse. He was talking to the glass door, as the wind and rain blew.

    Before my order came up, he had4outside, holding an empty plastic bag, and sat on the ground. I knew that it was freezing out there, even if it was California. I5looking at him, then I noticed a wet $20 bill6 the double glass doors.

    I walked outside. He was, again, speaking to things or7that you and I could not see, that is, not part of our8. I kept asking him, “Is this your $20?” He was confused, then he jumped up,9holding his empty plastic bag. I led him to the10, telling him that I wanted him to 11.

    The other patients shied away from him, making a wide12around him. I guided him to the counter to 13. Several workers said, “We don't want to give him anything.” “But he has14now,” I told them. Somehow the young man ordered, then seemed extremely15as to what to do.

    I guided him to a seat, handed his food.16his soda, and brought him lots of ketchup(番茄酱). Again, all other tables around him vacated(空出)their seats and looked at me17. I opened his sandwiches, and set his meal up. I wish I had a18end to this true story,19, at that point, it was all I could 20, as I had to get back to work.

    The journey my daughter Cathy has had with her swimming is as long as it is beautiful.

    Cathy suffered some terrible1in her early childhood. After years of regular treatment, she2became healthy.

    Two years ago, while Cathy was watching the Olympics, a dream came into her sweet little head—to be a swimmer. Last summer, she wanted to3out local swim team. She practiced hard and finally4it. The team practice,5was a rough start. She coughed and choked and could hardly6her first few weeks. Hearing her coughing bitterly one night, I decided to7her from it all. But Cathy woke me up early next morning, wearing her swimsuit8to go! I told her she shouldn't swim after a whole night's coughing, but she refused to9and insisted she go .

From that day on, Cathy kept swimming and didn't10a single practice. She had a11intention within herself to be the best she could be. My ten-year-old was growing and changing right before my eyes, into this12human being with a passion and a mission. There were moments of13of course: often she would be the last swimmer in the race. It was difficult for Cathy to accept that she wasn't a14—ever. But that didn't stop her from trying.

    Then came the final awards ceremony at the end of the year. Cathy didn't expect any award but was still there to15her friends and praise their accomplishments. As the ceremony was nearing the end, I suddenly heard the head coach16, “The highest honor goes to Cathy!” Looking around, he continued, “Cathy has inspired us with her17and enthusiasm.18skills and talents bring great success, the most valuable asset(财富)one can hold is the heart.”

    It was the greatest19of my daughter's life. With all she hade been20in her ten years, this was the hour of true triumph(成功).

Nailed it

    Last July, Peters, 36, rolled her wheelchair into a nail（指甲）salon with the idea of doing her nails. But Peters, who has cerebral palsy（大脑性瘫痪），was 1 The salon, she says, told her that they were afraid it would be 2difficult to properly paint her nails given that her hands 3 What was meant to be a day of beauty happiness for Peters was now a 4.

    5 the interaction from a few feet away was a Walmart cashier（收银员）about to go on her 6 . Ebony Harris, 40, 7 in Peters, a Walmart regular, a similar spirit. "She's a girlie girl," Harris told ABC 12 of Flint, Michigan. "She'^,s just like you, me, my daughter, anybody. She wants to look 8. So why can't she?"

    Harris 9 Peters. "Do you want me to do your nails?" she asked. A smile 10 across Peters's face. "Yeah!" They shopped for nail polish and 11on a bright blue ­ a statement color that would catch every eye. They then made their  12 into a neighboring Subway, and found a table for two. Harris 13 took Peters's hand into hers and carefully began painting her nails.

    "I was a little nervous and was shaking too because I didn't want to 14 her nails up," Hams admitted to ABC News. "I told her she's a blessing to us, to anybody, not 15 me. She makes me look at life and appreciate it much 16 than I have."

    Watching it all with 17 was Subway employee Tasia Smith. What struck her most was the ease and gentleness 18 by Harris as she painted Peters's nails, all the while chatting 19 they were old friends. Smith was so taken by the scene that she wrote about it on Facebook." She was so 20 with her," she wrote. "Thank you to the Walmart worker for making this beautiful girl's day!"

    I grew up as the "baby" of my family. I was the 1 of three sons. My brothers were five and seven years older than me. They 2 with most of the chores (杂务) around the house, while I spent most of my time riding my bike, 3 basketball in the yard, and etc. To say I was a bit 4 wouldn't be unreasonable. I spent my childhood with all the fun and none of the 5.

    By the time I entered my early teens, however, my 6 had moved out of our home. My dad was badly 7 and became disabled. We had 8 a mountain top house heated by a wood stove (火炉) with only well water to drink. I soon 9 myself then doing more 10 than I had ever done before. I 11 our garden and mowed our lawn (割草) in the summer. In the fall I carried wood to keep us 12 in the winter months to come. And all year round I carried 13 containers of water from a mountain spring back to our house.

    At first I grumbled and 14 to myself. After a while, though, I began to find 15 in helping my parents that I 16 so much. I sang to myself when I cut wood and 17 while I carried water. I 18 found myself helping my mom with the dinner dishes and cleaning. I started to 19 something that I would carry with me the rest of my life too: When your work is done in 20, it isn't work.