A couple in South Carolina has been eagerly seeking an organ donor. They haven't found one1.But they did find something else: friends.

Larry Swilling and his wife Jimmie Sue have been happily2for 56 years. So happily, in fact, that Larry has now come to realize he can't3without his wife. "She's my heart," he said. The problem with Jimmie Sue is that she4a kidney(肾). Jimmie Sue was born with only one, and now that doesn't5.She needs a transplant but neither her husband, nor anyone tested in her family, is a6match.

    Jimmie Sue is trying to get on a donor list, but the7is about two or three years long and that's for a kidney from a dead donor. Transplant patients who get their kidneys from living donors tend to live8.That is why Larry decided to try to ask for it, from total strangers.

"I don't9what people think," Larry said. He tells his wife, "I'm going to10you a kidney." And on the street, wearing a signboard "Need kidney for my wife", he's not shy in asking11:"Could I use your kidney?" For the last couple weeks, Larry, at 77, has been walking all over his hometown and the surrounding towns-basically12a kidney. He didn't really think it would work13he said, "I had to do something." He didn't fee14when the phone rang. "I'm willing to donate a kidney for your15," one caller said. "I'd like nothing more than to help you out," said another.

Believe it or not, over the last few days the16hasn't stopped ringing. Hundreds of people who either saw his sign or heard about it have17.One volunteer said, "I've got two, but I18need one." Larry hasn't found a match for his wife, but at least he has already had enough volunteers and19enough awareness to save someone. "If I get a kidney, it's fine. If I don't, I hope someone else does," the wife said. And that's why Larry is still out there, appealing to the20of strangers for the love of his wife.

    When I think about what my hero means to me, I realize that most of my special memories and feelings toward my hero come from the little things he does every day. My hero is not a celebrity or such a recognizable face. My hero is not a national hero or a multi – millionaire. He has never saved me from a burning castle or an avalanche（雪崩）, but he does 1 me and tell me to have a good day. He is just an 2, quiet man, whom I honor.

    My dad is my hero because he is brave, skilled, and 3. I know many people say their dads are their heroes, but my dad teaches me about becoming a man, which is extremely important for a young boy.

    Respect goes a long way with my dad, as does patience. As a(n) 4, my dad must deal with people every day, some of whom are nice and some are not. Either way, he 5 his well-mannered attitude.

    Dad is not afraid of many things, or if he is, he doesn't tell me 6he wants to seem tough. He may not be a big guy but since he works with his 7 all day, he is very strong. Dad works outdoors in all kinds of 8 but the worst thing he has to do is 9 up and work in an attic (顶楼) in the middle of the summer. Trust me, this is the 10 place you will experience as an electrician and when you come back 11, what is in your lungs will make you 12 for hours.

    My dad and I have a very good 13. We talk about almost everything. We go hunting, fishing, and everything a dad and son would do. My dad and I enjoy 14 most because it gives us time outdoors together and there is nothing like that. He has 15 and taught me everything I need to know about 16.

    I am 17 to be the son of Mike C. , and would not have it any other way. People come up to me all the time to 18 me I have a good dad. It makes me feel 19 that a lot of people think so 20 of him. He is a good teacher of my life and would do anything for me. This is why my father is my hero.

    At thirteen, I was diagnosed with kind of attention disorder. It made school1for me. When everyone else in the class was2on tasks, I could not.

    In my first literature class, Mrs. Smith3us to read a story and then write on it, all within 45 minutes. I4my hand right away and said,“Mrs. Smith, you see, the doctor said I have5problems. I might not be able to do it. ”

    She glanced down at me6her glasses, “you are no different from your classmates, young man. ”

    I tried,7 I didn't finish the reading when the bell rang. I had to take it8.

    In the quietness of my bedroom, the story9all became clear to me. It was about a blind person, Louis Braille. He lived in a time10the blind couldn't get much education. But Louis didn't give up.11, he invented a reading system of raised dots （n. 点）, which12a whole new world of knowledge to the blind.

    Wasn't I the “blind” in my class, being made to learn like the “13” .students? My thoughts14out and my pen started to dance. I15the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was no different from others; I just needed a16place. If Louis could find his way out of his17, why should I ever give up?

    I didn't18anything when I handled in my paper to Mrs. Smith, so it was quite a (an)19when it came back to me the next day- with an “A” on it. At the bottom of the paper were these20: “See what you can do when you keep trying.”

    Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to 1 how much I wanted to see France; evidently, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I 2 that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and 3 friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was 4, nothing about my term in France was what I 5.

    The moment I arrived in Paris, I was 6 by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting 7 I received some shocking news from my program-coordinator (协调人): there had been a death in my host parents' extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to 8 out of one family's house and into another. The exchange coordinator told me I'd have a 9 this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation to 10 my native language, I asked not to be 11 with an English-speaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I 12 myself to my new roommate Paolo, a 13, the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDs! In just a few hours, we knew we'd be good friends for the rest of the 14.

    I left France with many 15, so when people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always 16 to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and the scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends 17 France we enjoyed together. I love how people can seem so different, but end up being so 18. The most valuable lesson I gained from studying in France wasn't just to respect the French people 19 to respect all people, for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful 20.

    Last summer, I began the biggest adventure of my life. I moved from a tiny city in England to one of the 1 cities in the world.

    As the plane 2 in Beijing, one of the first things I did was to 3 one of the city's hutong. Walking around the 4 street, the warm air was filled with the 5 of delicious food as people played mahjong and 6 their old­fashioned bikes. This was the first moment I 7, "Wow, I'm in China."

    Beijing couldn't be more 8 to my home city, Preston, which 9 a population of just 114,000. It has one 10 street that's around 500 meters from one end to the 11, on Sunday, all the shops 12 at 4：00 pm. There isn't a great deal of 13 when it comes to restaurants, either, and as a 14 of food, I couldn't wait to see what Beijing has to15. I still don't have a favorite dish here yet-I'm still happily working my way through the city's countless 16 to try to figure that out.

    I'm slowly getting used 17 the fast­paced lifestyle and different 18 of life. In the future, I hope to buy a motorbike and 19 from one end to the other of this beautiful city, taking photos and 20 new people along the way.

    I didn't grow up in a very loving family. In fact, there are few,1, happy memories I have of my childhood2my family members. My3moments were those spent with the few friends I was4to have. My family eventually alienated (排斥) all the neighbors.5, I didn't even have kids to play with and became quite serious just to hide my pain.

    There was another family in town that seemed6to mine. They had a lot of children too. I always wondered what it would be like7my family were more like them. They never knew it, but I watched them and8them. They were kind, genuine and close.

    9later I found myself back in the very same place, in that same small town I had10. This time I was in that town for my mother's funeral. My family gave each other the cold11, as always. I felt upset that neither time nor circumstances could make them act with12toward each other. As I approached the church for the funeral, memories came13back to me. I remembered the warm, kind smiles of that family.

    After the funeral service a meal was provided. When looking for seats with my husband. I heard a14voice I hadn't heard in decades call my name. I15and the father of that family I had admired was there. He was a church volunteer for my mother's funeral lunch. We chatted for a bit. I16my happy child a few meters away to him and it was at that point that I realized I was raising my boy in a way I had seen him bring17his own children so long ago. He wasn't18of it, but my son's life has been greatly19by him.

    So, live your life with love and kindness. You never know who's watching, who you will20and whose life you'll change.