Dear Mom and Dad,

    I'd like you to know that I appreciate everything you've done for me, such as teaching me, taking care of me, and loving me.

    I'm writing this thank-you letter, Mom and Dad, because I want you to know what a big 1 you have truly made in my life. You   2 me so many things about the world and myself. You were the first ones to tell me about the importance of 3 by telling me it was 4 to refuse all my other playmates from using my toys. And to this day, 5 those toys are long gone, I 6 to live by the idea of sharing my blessings (祝福) with the people 7 me.

    Mom and Dad, you also 8 me to be sympathetic (同情) towards the blind old man. You told me that our pets are there for us to 9 and not to hurt. And because of those 10, I've learnt to be 11.

    Thank you, Mo m and Dad. You gave me some of the nicest 12. Mom, I remember how you would let me sleep in your bed 13 how you used to bring me my favorite fried chicken and take care of me whenever I was 14. Dad, I remember how you worked 15 to make me a playhouse in the yard so my friends and I could 16 happily there.

    I may have 17 you and your purposes when I was much younger. But now I know that 18 you did was for my own good.

    Mom and Dad, I hope this thank-you 19 is enough to let you know how much I 20 everything you've done for me.

                                                                                                                                                                         All the love,

                                                                                                                                                                                Rex

    When things went wrong, Ittleby Fein always had something nice to say.

    When Dad forgot about the pizza and it burned, Ittleby said, “Don't 1. It'll still taste good.” And he was 2. The pizza edges were dark, 3 the middle wasn't bad.

    Ittleby looked on the 4 side. And everyone, except Hazel, 5 that about him.

    Hazel was the 6 student in class. On her first day, Ittleby said, “Nice to meet you, Hazel. I think you'll like it here.” Hazel looked at him, “I 7 it.” Ittleby didn't know what to do. He'd never8 anyone like Hazel.

    9 Mr. D. said they'd have recess (休息) inside 10 the rain, Hazel said, “Bad things come in threes. No outdoor recess is number one. What will the 11 thing be?

    The class didn't have to 12 long to find out. Greta was carrying a box of paints during art class. She 13, and paint went flying. Hazel turned to Ittleby, “That was the second 14 thing. What will the third be?”

    Ittleby didn't know what to say. Hazel seemed so 15 about the Rule of Three Bad Things.

    Emma came to look at Ittleby's 16. She picked it up, not realizing she had paint on her fingers. Hazel pointed, “Ittleby's picture is ruined(破坏)! There's number three.” Emma looked 17. “I'm sorry, Ittleby.” “It's OK, Emma. If I add wings, the fingerprint(指纹) could look like butterflies,” said Ittleby.

    So Ittleby added wings. 18 he said, “Everyone, let's make a field of butterflies.”

    Everyone put a fingerprint on Ittleby's paper. Only Hazel didn't.

    “Want to add one?” Ittleby asked her. Hazel thought about it, and she carefully added wings.

    “It looks 19. I like it very much,” said Ittleby. Hazel 20, “You know, I don't really think there's a Rule of Three Bad Things.” Ittleby nodded, “Bad things happen. But good things happen, too. And sometimes, there are good things hiding where you don't expect them.”

    I sat down at my desk and started writing a letter of thankfulness, but when it came to actually putting the letter into the mailbox... I 1 ...I couldn't do it. I suddenly felt a sense of 2and insecurity (不安).

    The letter was to an old teacher with whom I kept in 3 on Facebook. For months, I read about what she 4 on her Facebook page, which helped me to live my life differently. Her volunteer (志愿者) work wasn't huge. 5, she was doing small, local good deeds.6 , she changed my views on the world and for some reason, I felt I should let her know how her example7 influenced me.

    I could have easily sent her an email, but that seemed not enough for such an important thank-you. That's why I ended up8 the letter. But now here I was, standing before the mailbox, unable to put the envelope inside. What was stopping me? It suddenly hit me that I was 9 of being too nice. I guess I felt strange 10 it wasn't like she was my best friend or a relative. Maybe my 11 was too heartfelt. Thinking this over, I put the envelope in the mailbox 12.

    Weeks later I received a message from her. It turned out she was 13 a hard time and my note 14 a lot to her. She said she had no idea she was playing such a big 15in others' life.

    Not only did this letter make her happier, but her response to it brightened my world and 16my level of happiness as well. I was so 17 that it had such a great influence on her that I decided to write a(n) 18 letter to someone each month. Now it's easier for me to19 the goodness in others and be more20 for this beautiful life I'm living.

    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.

    I have always been a big girl. I am comfortable with my body but there is a price to pay for being1 .

    In primary school, I was enthusiastic about gymnastics but I had to 2  my shortcomings by hours after hours of extra practice, going over every3. It took months to master the ribbon (带子), which I used to get in a terrible 4. However, I carried on and 5  greatly so that in 2015 I was in the National Championships Final.

    Whenever I went up in a 6, I always got the sense that the 7  did not expect much from the overweight child before them. They 8 about my weight in low voices. One man9 said, "That's the ugliest leotard (紧身衣) I've ever seen and the elephant inside it isn't much10!"

    I felt11 . Trying to smile away the tears, I decided to let my ribbon do the talking. I had worked particularly hard on my ribbon and it showed. On the first beat I knew it was to be 12. I was gliding on the music, each move under 13  control. Soon the 14  of the crowd turned to cheers. As I went into that last split leap, the crowd15. I turned to face them and found each one on their feet, applauding. It was incredible.

    I was titled National Champion that year, but the best thing I got from hours of16 practice was the knowledge that my appearance cannot 17 who I am and should never limit what I can do. Society seems to18 that overweight people are unhappy with their weight and have little19, so they never amount to much. What a ridiculous guess! I believe I can achieve anything20 I am bigger than my body. Who wants to be ordinary anyway?

    Nick was not the kind of boy I had expected to spend my summer with. I was hoping to have a1the summer before my busy senior year, but my mother asked me to do her a2. One of her colleagues needed a full-time3. "You planned to volunteer at the local hospital, why not volunteer to4Nick instead?" Then she told me that this six-year-old boy was not a5 child.

    Nick was a lovely little boy who suffered from many disorders. Normal day-care centers would not6him. As a baby, he had serious ear infections which left him with equilibrium(平衡) problems.

    He couldn't7or run properly. I was8if I was to take the job when my mother9.

    "Don't you want to be a nurse in the future? I doubt if you even have the10."

    Then I told her I was11for the job.

    The day started at 7:00 a.m. Nick was my wake-up call! With so much energy and very little 12, he was quite a mix.

    At the park, when he saw all the other children play on the jungle gym and swings(秋千), the boy's face 13up—How he wished he belonged to the group of his age! You would think it would be 14to get a child to go down a slide. Believe me, it wasn't! It took time, a lot of time. But with patience and support. Nick took one step up the slide each day. We worked together to face his 15and gradually he got closer to taking the slide of his life.

    Halfway through the summer, he16it to the top of the slide. With my arms holding him tightly, we flew down the slide! I waited for his17. After realizing that he was safe and sound, he gave me a big18and asked, "May I go down again, alone?"

    I had never been happier in my life when I saw this little child climb the ladder and enjoy what other children19for granted.

    This20child taught me that being a nurse means respect, kindness and patience.