When I was in Germany, one day at Christmas-time I went to a post office to send a letter. To my 1, I found people queuing some paces away from the 2 at the savings deposit (存款) window.

    Why so? Each did his business in turn but the line never 3 a step nearer .I was very curious, so I walked to the window to 4 the cause. There was a 5on which was written “ Thank you for your respect for other's privacy”—a polite 6 to keep people away from nosing into other's affairs (money matters are regarded as privacy in Western countries). I was deeply 7 by the sight and stayed a while to watch: they were 8 so calmly at a distance that they seemed quite 9 to the practice. The 10 thing happened at a public telephone box. Those waiting for their 11 always kept their distance—enough to be out of 12. It's another typical example! From then on I 13 to watch their ways of doing things, manners, treatment shown towards 14. I found the Germans always mindful of other's privacy（隐私）. They 15 not to put others in an embarrassing (窘迫) situation. For instance, they never 16 about age, incomes or the place to buy such a coat, nor would they talk about the others or 17 others wore on their necks. Their laws 18 reading diaries or opening letters without 19. It's obvious that it shows 20 matters are not allowed to be disturbed.

My Hero

    What does it mean to be a hero? I think a hero is someone who goes out of his way to make others happy. My hero is Mr. Wright, my chorus(合唱队) teacher.

    When I was 12 years old, my grandparents passed away. I was really close to them, and losing them was the hardest thing I've ever had to1through. I couldn't eat, sleep, or think; I felt like I couldn't even breathe. It was as if my whole world had fallen down from under me, and I2into this huge hole of depression(抑郁).

    3I was battling depression, I was determined to make my high school years the best of my life. It was difficult to be 4, but I had to try. I joined Women's Choir. Mr. Wright was the choral director and he was so funny that the first day, I just knew I had made the best5of my life. As the year progressed, I loved chorus more and more. I began to smile again and really enjoy 6.

    Then one day that all changed. My friends—or those that I thought were my friends—started talking about me behind my back. I was7 , and I sat by myself. Mr. Wright came over and asked what was wrong. The look in his eyes told me that I could8him. Trying hard to9 back tears, I told him the whole story.

    When I finished, he nodded and told me, “If you never learn anything from me, learn this: No one is worth 10 your joy.” What Mr. Wright said really11a chord (心弦) in my heart. He 12 cared about me and what was going on. I'll never be able to thank him enough, because he not only saved me but has13every day of it since. Any time I feel like giving 14, I remember Mr. Wright's words and push forward.

    I'm proud to say that I 15 my depression, and I'm now a senior. I'm still a16of chorus, and now I'm also in the best choir at my school.

Mr. Wright is a hero 17 everyone he meets. He cares about every single person who walks through his door, and he loves what he does more than any other teacher I've known. That's18  he deserves to be Educator of the Year. He deserves the19 not just this year but every year.

    I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet you, Mr. Wright. You are an 20teacher, and I hope you realize that. You're my hero.

    Merril Bingham passed away in February 2016. He was a(n)1to me in many ways. He retired(退休)four years ago. Before his retirement we remained close an talked 2. Among the many things that3me that him was his devotion to family and model of fatherhood.

    Merril was quite an athlete and he developed a love for4which lasted his entire life. As I attended Merril's funeral(葬礼), I was more impressed than ever at the5he played as a father to 8 children, who spoke at the funeral and6stories about their dad. I must 7 that, as I sat there, I wondered8my children would have as many great memories of their dad as Merril's 9_did of him.

    One daughter remembered that the morning she was to 10, her dad was up early in the kitchen. When she came into the kitchen, he said, “Hey, you're getting married today! Take it easy! What do you want for breakfasts?” He then made a 11breakfast and they enjoyed it together, making her 12.

    A son talked about fishing trips and 13as they worked in the yard together. He 14the importance of having the open, communicative relationship that15him to have confidence in his dad. This son also developed a love for golf and talked about loving the time when he could 169 or 18 holes with his dad together.

    The memories of the children were about time17together, not about money, or things that18less. I need to share my faith with my children in a(n)19way. Being overbearing(霸道的)doesn't work, 20being a loving example of a father does.

    I was nine when I arrived at the Children's Home in Nashua, New Hampshire. I failed third grade that year, and barely 1 it through a second time, and had squeaked through(侥幸通过) fourth grade by the time I reached Pauline Jambard's fifth-grade class at Charlotte Avenue Elementary School.

    I was 2 I wasn't as intelligent as the other kids. 3, Ms. Jambard took an instant liking to me. Of all the 4 in school, reading was my favorite. She would tell me, "Terry, you 5 reading. If you can understand what you're reading, you'll be 6 than most kids." After I read all the books in our program, I started reading the classroom's set of Encyclopedia Britannica(《不列颠百科全书》). And gradually I started to really 7 school life.

    That 8, our school threw a Christmas party for family and community members. My brother and I had no family to 9. I still remember looking up and seeing Ms. Jambard walk through the front door and 10 she was there to see me. I was deeply moved. That was the 11 Christmas of my life!

    After I graduated from Ms. Jambard's class, my brother and I 12, and I lost all touch with my teacher. Years later, I was on a business trip and had to drive through Nashua. I took a chance and 13 Charlotte Avenue Elementary School. I was walking toward her 14 when she came out into the hallway and said, "Terry!" It was as if I had 15 left! I was in seventh heaven on my flight home.

    We have stayed in 16, and I call Ms. Jambard at least once a year. Because of the 17 she instilled(灌输) in me, I went on to have a 18 career in engineering. I don't know if Ms. Jambard realizes how much she 19 me, but I'll never forget her 20 and faith in me.

    I'm a seventeen-year-old, counting down the days till graduation, just like every other senior in the world. I've1a lot in my short seventeen years of life, but I have also made mistakes. I'm not2. I'm on the path of self-discovery, which as I've come to realize is not3.

    After many years, I still4remember the last time I had to5. At that moment, starting a new6wasn't really that big of a deal. I spent the next four and a half years in Mountain Home. I made four7friends anyone could ever ask for. When I had to8them, I was depressed.

    I soon9that starting a new high school was different from being the “10girl” in elementary or even middle school. It wasn't as easy to gain the “approval(认可)” of my11now as it had been back then. Back in elementary or middle school,12I was a freshman, I had my friends and people I knew. I could very easily13well over ninety percent of my class.14, at this new school, I15no one.

    I've been told over and over by my mom that I'll16have to enter the “real” world and that the17I have over all of these things will soon disappear. What adults18to realize is that every day in a teenager's life is a battle. We're no longer children, but not quite adults. We struggle to19who we are.

    Although I still have about a year and a half left, I honestly believe that being a teenager has been the hardest20in my life, something I'm sure I'll carry with me for the rest of my existence.

Every weekend my parents give me $100. I bet you think I'm really spoiled (宠坏的). Think again!

It all started when I wanted a really cool 1 . I asked my parents to buy it for me but they said I would have to buy with my own money. "But it's only $100!" I 2 . An hour later, my parents 3 there would be a family meeting at dinner.

They 4 the meeting with the words, "We've been thinking about how to give you more 5 in our family." They brought up several "new ways" I could "have more say." One way was to allow me to 6 for the family. Each Saturday, I was to be given $100 — along with a shopping 7 . It was up to me to buy everything on it. Whatever money was 8 , whether two dollars or thirty, was mine and I could 9 however I wanted — whether to buy toys, books, jackets, or even a bicycle. My parents' $100-a-week plan gives me real 10 to shop for the best bargains (特价商品). I 11 prices on every single item on my list before I 12 what to put in my basket.

My parents' clever plan has turned me into a 13 shopper. Now, when I finally save enough money, that cool bicycle doesn't just 14 a mere purchase; it stands as a symbol of my 15 success.