Many years have passed, but she still remembers the last day of her whole class. They got together to say goodbye to their 1 schooldays. She wonders herself if any of them still remembers their2, now that time has cloaked the past memories with layers of dust and 3 each fate beyond any expectations.

    The jolly “dwarf” of the class has now4 a successful businessman. The shy skinny “bookworm” is now a talented Ph.D. Trying his luck in some5 land in the Western atmosphere. The naughty, tomboy has6 her carefree laughter in exchange for a sheltered, comfortable life. And7, a literature addict, was driven by an inner force to put her pen aside and become a8 instead.

    She decided to9 her old teacher, who had sowed the seed for the cause of nurturing people in her directionless mind10 his poetical lessons. She used to dream of the enlightened faces of her 11and their round eyes running over every page of the books. Yet, at the most12 turn of her life's course, she didn't 13literature for her career, for she had been told that literature is just like a magical paradise to which the way is extremely 14.

    Her hands are so small; 15 can they hold the depths and the fullness that literature can bring? Still, she promises herself to go16, bearing in mind the last17 of her dear teacher, “Don't18what you give or receive. Learn to live generously to enjoy life, even when it's not generous toward us.”

    Now, she is a teacher, yet she has to continue learning numerous difficult19 of life. The more she20, the better she understands the value of her teacher's last lesson.

    Suddenly my mobile phone rang. “Where are you?” the urgent voice demanded on my phone.

    The woman on the other end of the phone had1news—news that would  change  my  life forever.  Apparently  my 2was on his way home at lunchtime3he suffered an unexpected heart attack.4a neighbor's sharp eyes had spotted him. By now it was after 1pm and Ueli was on his way to the nearest hospital. It turned out that,5a huge effort by a large team of medical staff, nine hours after the6, Ueli, the father of two of my sons, died.

    But Ueli's story didn't7there. Ever since I met him, he had8that, should he die before me, I must ensure that if it were possible his9would be donated. So on that awful night I10the medical staff  to  help  make  his  wishes 11.   Once the 12were made, I thought that I had honored Ueli's final act of selflessness and would hear no more of it.

    Some time later,13, I received a letter telling me that the corneas(角膜) had been successfully transplanted into the eyes of two young women who would benefit greatly from improved vision. What a14it was to know that this generous man's15 would have such a positive impact on these women. But the best news was16to come. More than a year after Ueli died, a lovely card arrived in the mail from the organ donor organization,17me that a young man who may not have lived much longer had successfully18Ueli's heart valve(心瓣膜).

    What happiness I have! I know Ueli would have been extremely19to have had a part in20this young man's life and ensuring that he would now pursue his own dreams with much improved health. Now I can forever say, “Rest in peace, Ueli; you'll be remembered—even by strangers.”

    I never forget the single act of kindness that changed my life over 25 years ago. During a vacation trip, I needed to find my 1 to the Greyhound bus station, some 30 miles away. Being a 2student, I had little money to get there.

    I3to call various taxis and shuttle（往返汽车） services but they were all to4or too far away to pick me up. Then, I got one person on the5who managed to make out that I needed a ride to the Greyhound station but only had limited financial 6 and he agreed to transport me! He came to pick me up about 45 minutes 7. The driver was older and I remember8why the shuttle didn't have a meter (计时器) but his ID was there and I could see this was his9. The driver was so kind. He knew I was10so he distracted me with stories and good11. He said I looked like his granddaughter.

    At one point, I asked him why he12so little to the others. Then, he patiently explained that he was13retired and hadn't removed his number from the phone book but when I called, clearly upset, he felt 14to help. This man drove an hour out of his way to help a person he didn't know for a fee that only15his gas, if that! Because of his 16, I knew things were going to be okay. This man's kindness warms my heart every time I think of him. 17 , I didn't get his name and his face has18gradually from my memory but he is on my mind often and I wish I could thank him19 "Thank you Mr. Angel Shuttle-Man! I hope your granddaughter knows what a(n)20grandfather she has!"

    "Where is the bus?" I asked myself. I was going to be late and the manager wasn't going to be 1 ." Thank God. Here it is." The bus  2 round the corner and I got on. Ten minutes later I was walking into the 3 where I work. Twenty-five past nine. I hope the manager doesn't notice. But no 4luck.

    "Smith!" shouted the manager. "Late again. What's your 5 this time?"" I'm afraid the bus was late, Mr. Brown." "6 up earlier tomorrow! Anyway, get to business at the counter. We'll be opening in a few minutes."

    My first customer was a pretty girl 7 a red dress. Behind her was a young man of about 25. He seemed very 8 , and 9 few seconds he looked towards the main entrance. The girl asked about opening a bank account. I gave her the necessary 10 and she walked out. 11 , I noticed a tall man by the door, carrying something 12 with brown paper. Turning to my next customer, I was terrified to see a gun 13 out of his coat. The next moment a loud noise 14 my ears. Everything went black. I was falling.... After 15 seemed a very a long time, I opened my eyes and found myself in bed! 16 shaking from the memory of this terrible dream, I got dressed and ran out of the house. As 17, the bus wasn't on time, and I arrived at 9:25.

    "Smith!" the manager cried out in a voice like thunder. " Later again! Go and start work at once!" To my 18 , the first customer was a girl 19 a red dress and behind her stood a man carrying something wrapped in brown paper. The dream!  20 that the surprise of my life!

    When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student, I believed I could 1 tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he2 in class.

    When I took the first exam, I was 3 to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, 4English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained5.

    I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that 6 because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I 7 with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his 8.

    One more test before the final exam. One more 9to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time 10the meaning of the word "thorough". But my11 did no good and everything 12as before.

    The last hurdle(障碍) was the final. No matter what 13I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the 14goodbye.

    I stopped working head. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even15 myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have 16with a test.

    A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into professor Jayne's office. He 17 to be expecting me. "If I gave you the As you 18, you wouldn't continue to work as hard."

    I stared at him, 19that his analysis and strategy were correct. I had worked my head 20, as I had never done before.

I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.

It never occurred to me to think about my future job till I entered high school. In the years before high school, I 1 much on football and music. That was 2 I spent most of my spare time. After I entered high school, my 3 for civil engineering (土木工程) inspired me to make greater efforts. 

I found my way to civil engineering 4 when I read an article about the Los Angeles earthquake in 1994. Its consequence was so awful that I was totally shocked. During the earthquake, many buildings fell down. The disaster led to heavy casualties ( 伤 亡 ). The 5 sent me into thinking about how the building projects could be safer, and how I could get them that way. From then on, I 6 to learn civil engineering. 7 different kinds of buildings is a form of recreation for me. Sitting on my bicycle for hours watching the houses around me has made me feel the 8 to shape our buildings into solid ones. 

To achieve my ambition, I must 9 that I can get high grades in all my subjects. In school, I am truly fond of science and good at math. 10 , my high school years had been challenged. My poor writing skills used to 11 me a lot. Fortunately, I had a strong wish to achieve my dream. It was the desire, which 12 me to keep practicing, that helped me overcome my shortcomings. 

Over the years, I have learned to stick with things that I find right 13 . This character will stay with me till my efforts 14 . That, combined with my longstanding curiosity about 15 our world, is what will make me a great civil engineer someday soon.