Years ago, acritical event occurred in my life that would change it forever. I met Kurt Kampmeir of Success Motivation Incorporation for breakfast. While we were1 , Kurt asked me, " John, what is your 2for personal growth?"

     Never at a loss for words, I tried to find things in my life that might3 for growth. I told him about the many activities in which I was4 . And I went into a 5about how hard I worked and the gains I was making. I must have talked for ten minutes. Kurt  6patiently, but then he 7 smiled and said, “You don't have a personal plan for growth, do you?”

    “No, I8.

   “You know,” Kurt said simply, “growth is not a(n)9 process.”

     And that's when it10me. I wasn't doing anything11 to make myself better. And at that moment, I made the 12 : I will develop and follow a personal growth plan for my 13.

    That night, I talked to my wife about my 14 with Kurt and what I had learned. I15her the workbook and tapes Kurt was selling. We16 that Kurt wasn't just trying to make a sale. He was offering a 17 for us to change our lives and achieve our dreams.

     Several important things happened that day. First, we decided to18 the resources. But more importantly, we made a commitment to19 together as a couple. From that day on, we learned together, traveled together, and sacrificed together. It was a  20 decision. While too many couples grow apart, we were growing together.

    I believe different people have experienced different adolescence, I must admit I was still an angry1in my first year of college. My 2 was that my parents didn't please me at all.

    Our finances were 3so I chose to go to a (n)4college and take a bus to classes every day. One day I had a(n)5fight with my father, We both explode into shouts,6 out of the house and missed my bus to school.

    I rushed all the way to school. As I7across the campus toward my class, I suddenly I realized didn't have the 8 that was due: a thought card. My professor asked us to 9 an index card with our names and the dales every Tuesday.10 what was to be on the rest of the card, we could write a thought, a question or something else.

    Now, outside the door, ten minutes later. I took an index card.11 to write something on it, I could only think about the 12 I'd just had with my dad. I wrote “I am the son of an idiot!” then13 into the room, and handed it to our professor.

    Next day, our professor 14 the thought cards and I 15 that he wrote, “What does the 'son of an idiot' do with the nest of his life?” The professor's innocent-seeming question16me to the issue: whose problem is it?17, my thinking began to shift, I realized that I had created a life18 I was not a central figure!

    The 19 of growth wasn't easy or fast. Years later, from a 20student, I became a successful student and then a successful teacher.

    Sometimes people around you can change your life. The change may not be sudden or1, but little habits can produce big 2that make you think about what is important in your life. The person who changed my life is Julia Masi. She has3me so many things that I will carry with me4my life.

    One thing I've learned from Julia is how to balance5. Julia has shown me how to 6ahead so that I can finish all my school work, enjoy sports and 7have time for my friends. She has taught me that you can do anything if you are8—— never give up. I've also learned that you can find anything 9if you connect it with something that you enjoy.

    Last year I hated studying vocabulary, but I loved playing on my computer. Julia 10the two and showed me a website called “freerice.com” where you can 11a word game that gives you 5 grains of rice to donate to the poor with every correct word. She 12me to learn a hundred new13by filling up the rice bowl. I liked playing the game so much that I14about 1,000 words in just one month.

    Julia has always15me to try new hobbies. She showed me that going to the theater could help me become a better writer.16, she taught me that discussing a play can excite an interest in reading.

    17 it weren't for Julia I probably wouldn't have18how easy it is to help the poor. There are so many ways that one person can19. I've learned to be more appreciative of what I own. I am20for the opportunities that I have been given. I will continue to think of ways to help those less fortunate for the rest of my life.

    When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, Reader's Digest wrote about impressive rescues. The spirit of serving can be incredibly 1 Here is a story from Annalysa Longworth, a survivor of Hurricane Maria, in her own 2.

    “The total 36 hours of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was 3 the scariest event we've ever gone through. Our house sits on the north-west coast of Rincón. In the 4, over 100 mph winds changed direction causing a great amount of water flooding our 5. The only place left dry and safe was our kitchen floor, where we were 6 to ride out the rest of the storm. It has been 50 days since the 7, and we are still without power and water. During our regular afternoon showers, we are glad to 8 rainwater but are quickly reminded of the people living without roofs, and how 9 it must be for them. Our emotions are consistently in a state of 10.

    Recently, our good friends told us about a video interview they were doing with Watts of Love, a solar light company. The company generously gave us a headlamp for our personal 11 and a box with 50 headlamps to distribute throughout our town. Rincón was completely blacked out so making a simple walk through a parking lot to our car is 12. We used to rush to get things done before 13, but now I continue daily chores in the dark. What 14 our lives most was being able to share this gift with others. We 15 the lamps house by house to the people in the mountains who needed them most, as even batteries and candles are 16 there. Even though 17 have come slowly, people have been out of work and can't afford to 18 their electric bill. I'll always be 19 to Watts of Love for allowing us to pay it forward and be witnesses to the smiles that 20 can bring.”

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(随着…的临近) Qingming, we students became restless as {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(已被宣布) that we would have a two-day break. On Qingming, it is {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(一个古老的中国风俗) to pay a visit to the family graveyard in memory of ancestors. It is also a good opportunity for us students to escape from the boring life at school. We waited and waited until the bell rang, indicating the class was over. We rushed out of the classroom like caged birds, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(渴望) get home earlier.

Since my parents had attended the family memorial service two days before the Qingming Festival, we decided to make a short road trip to Cherry Valley instead. The valley is just a stone's throw from where we live. When springs comes, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(成群的人们) flock there, admiring cherry blossoms. My family is no exception. Every year, we drive there to {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(大饱眼福). After about half an hour, we made it to the entrance to the valley. Having arrived there, we found huge numbers of people had gathered. Wherever I went, I was drowned in {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(大量的) noise. No wonder tons of people rushed over to take a closer look at cherry blossoms, for the entry here is totally{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(免费的). But people had to wait for their turn. After what seemed like two hours, finally it was our turn. Once inside, we {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(受到问候) tweets of birds perching on cherry trees. It was like stepping into a fairyland with all those cherry blossoms{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(bloom) around us. At the sight of this, we couldn't wait to explore more together. The air was filled with sweet, intoxicating fragrance. Standing under the trees, I felt my skins {#blank#}11{#/blank#}(caress) gently by the falling pink petals. Birds were jumping here and there among cherry trees, {#blank#}12{#/blank#}(twitter) happily. Everyone was holding their phone, trying to capture the amazing view. Strolling with my family down the trails, I found myself in a totally different world. There was no worry, no trouble, and above all no pressure from study. It{#blank#}13{#/blank#}(一点也不令人吃惊) such a small place is packed with so many visitors every spring. The scenery is amazing and impressive. Cherry Valley is also a paradise for foodies in spring. Local restaurants have a lot {#blank#}14{#/blank#}(offer), which can suit different tastes. 

Places like Cherry Valley are ideal destinations for visitors in spring, for they make life truly special and relaxing. It {#blank#}15{#/blank#}(大自然很慷慨) to provide us with such magical and charming places in the world.

From the age of eight or so, I had to contribute my share of labour along with my father and two elder brothers. Kneeling in a rice field, I was up to my thighs in the1 . It splashed all over me, wet, sticky and 2 . When mud splashed into my eyes and onto my lip, I'd stand up, find the kettle of fresh water and try to 3 it away; but it was always a long 4 .

In midsummer, the sun beat upon my back, making me feel like hot bread 5 the side of a pan.6 ran down my mud-covered arms and legs. It felt as if ants were 7 all over me. To prevent the sweat from running into my eyes, I kept my face as8 as possible.

I told myself, be9 ! If my parents and brothers could10 taking it, so could I. A kind of 11 took place of the hurt in me. So thinking, I slowly pulled myself together and I crawled on.

I 12 hard in the countryside, and I am proud of this. Crawling in the mud had taught me to take sweating as part of my life and not to be afraid in the face of 13 . More importantly, I had learnt the 14 of "you reap what you sow". Plant your feet15 on the ground, work hard and you will be rewarded.