If you could have one superpower, What would it be ?

    Dreaming about whether you would want to read minds , see through walls , or have superhuman strength may sound silly , but it actually gets to the heart of what really matters in your life 1

    Every day in our work , we are inspired by the people we meet doing extraordinary things to improve the world.

    They have a different kind of superpower that all of us possess : the power to make a difference in the lives of others .

    We're not saying that everyone needs to contribute their lives to the poor . Your lives are busy enough doing homework , playing sports , making friends , seeking after your dreams . But we do think that you can live a more powerful life when you devote some of your time and energy to something much larger than yourself . Find an issue you are interested in and learn more . Volunteer or , if you can , contribute a little money to a cause . Whatever you do , don't be a bystander . Get involved . You may have the opportunity to make your biggest difference when you're older . But why not start now ?

    Our own experience working together on health , development , and energy the last twenty years has been one of the most rewarding parts of our lives . It has changed who we are and continues to fuel our optimism about how much the lives of the poorest people will improve in the years ahead .

    Today marks the one-year anniversary of my father's death.Looking back at the past year,I cannot describe how hard it has been for me mentally and physically.

    For a long time I suffered in silence.I felt as if I was running in circles（圆圈）.I kept my tears to my sleep and my loneliness in my bedroom.

After my father's death,I began channeling all that pain into dance.But as a fairly new dancer,I haven't had too much stage experience.I recently performed at my school's winter concert for one of my classmates who is dealing with a rare illness.I dedicated（献上）the dance to her and my father.I only had one week.I was so anxious that I felt like I was having a heart attack.

    Luckily,my best friends came to my aid.What they said to me was one of the kindest things anyone has ever said.I will never forget what one of them said:"You are so beautiful because of your heart and beautiful mind.You have more kindness than some will ever have.I saw how much that dance meant to you,especially how it connected with your memories.It made me cry,that is how incredible you are."

Just surround yourself with people like my friend who will never think little of you.I am so proud of how much I've achieved and I know I will keep going,just as my father would have wished.

    First aid is emergency care for a victim of sudden illness or injury until more skillful medical treatment is available. It may save a life or improve certain vital signs including pulse, temperature，a clear airway(气道), and breathing. In minor emergencies，first aid may prevent a victim's condition from turning worse and provide relief from pain. First aid must be   administered as quickly as possible. In the case of the Critically injured, a few minutes can make a difference between complete recovery and loss of life.

    First­aid measures depend upon a victim's needs and the provider's level of knowledge and skill. Knowing what not to do in an emergency is as important as knowing what to do. Improperly moving a person with a neck injury, for example，can lead to permanent spinal (脊柱的) injury and  paralysis (瘫痪)．

    Despite the variety of injuries possible, several principles of first aid apply to all emergencies. The first step is to call for professional medical help. The victim, if conscious（有意识的）, should be reassured that medical aid has been requested，and asked for permission to provide any first aid.  Next，assess the scene, asking other people or the injured  person's family or friends about details of the injury or illness，any care that may have already been given, and preexisting conditions such as diabetes (糖尿病) or heart trouble. The victim should be checked for a medical bracelet (手镯) or card that describes special medical conditions. Unless the accident scene becomes unsafe or the victim may suffer further injury，do not move the victim.

    First aid requires rapid assessment of victims to determine whether life­threatening conditions exist. One method for evaluating a victim's condition is known by the acronym(首字母缩写词)ABC，which stands for：

    A—Airway: Is it open and clear?

    B—Breathing: Is the person breathing? Look, listen, and feel for breathing.

    C—Circulation: Is there a pulse? Is the person bleeding externally? Check skin color and temperature for additional indications of circulation problems.

    Sandra Cisneros was born in Chicago in 1954 to a Mexican American family. As the only girl in a family of seven children, she often felt like she had "seven fathers," because her six brothers, as well as her father, tried to control her. Feeling shy and unimportant, she retreated (躲避) into books. Despite her love of reading, she did not do well in elementary school because she was too shy to participate.

    In high school, with the encouragement of one particular teacher, Cisneros improved her grades and worked for the school literary magazine. Her father encouraged her to go to college because he thought it would be a good way for her to find a husband. Cisneros did attend college, but instead of searching for a husband, she found a teacher who helped her join the famous graduate writing program at the University of Iowa. At the university's Writers' Workshop, however, she felt lonely－a Mexican American from a poor neighborhood among students from wealthy families. The feeling of being so different helped Cisneros find her "creative voice".

    "It was not until this moment when I considered myself truly different that my writing acquired a voice. I knew I was a Mexican woman, but I didn't think it had anything to do with why I felt so much imbalance in my life, but it had everything to do with it! That's when I decided I would write about something my classmates couldn't write about."

    Cisneros published her first work, The House on Mango Street, when she was twenty-nine. The book talks about a young Mexican American girl growing up in a Spanish-speaking area in Chicago, much like the neighborhoods in which Cisneros lived as a child. The book won an award in 1985 and has been used in classes from high school to graduate school level. Since then, Cisneros has published several books of poetry, a children's book, and a short-story collection.

    This past summer I went on a journey to Canada's Arctic with Students On Ice. When I left Calgary I wondered what I would find what I would learn and who I would meet. On the trip to Ottawa I was wrapped in a blanket of uncertainty and excitement. But when I first met the group of students, scientists and leaders, I knew that l didn't have anything to worry about. The group was amazingly receptive and I was soon part of a big family setting out on an amazing adventure—an adventure of a lifetime!

    When we reached the Arctic I saw a vast Land that appeared untouched and original. I was surprised by its great size and beauty and my senses were repeatedly shocked and amazed. I stood on the Kapitan Khlebnikov and saw twelve polar bears. They walked in search of seal holes, and patiently waited for a meal. I learned that polar bears are successful only one out of every twenty hunting attempts.

    However, I learned that the Arctic and its people are being threatened by pollution and global warming. I learned that pollutants are carried by ocean and air and have a bad effect on all Arctic people. I learned that global warming has put polar bears at risk because a warmer climate means that they have a shorter time to hunt seals on the ice.

    The trip was a feast (盛宴) for the senses. I have learned more about our environment, and particularly how alive and interesting the Arctic is and why it is so important to take care of it. I learned pollution, ignorance of individual and global problems need to be solved. The Arctic deserves to be preserved. My trip with Students On Ice has made me more determined to try to ensure that I do not leave harmful footprints on either Earth or its people.