As I sat motionless on the steps of the pool, watching everyone else swim back and forth, I realized that I had spent most of my life watching others enjoy themselves. It was then that I1a little girl staring at me with a look of confusion. I smiled at her, hoping to 2the ice by talking to her. Unfortunately, my3failed and she just kept on staring. My 4increased as a little boy swam up to me and said, “I feel sorry for you.”

    After the5a thought struck me, I had to change 6the world viewed me. Because it was children who stared at me the most, I decided to write a children's book that taught them about7in a fun way. This is when KatGirl, a super hero in a8who helps children that are being bullied, came into my mind.

    I quickly9inside my apartment and began creating the story. As I wrote each word, I could10my future as a world-renowned author and public speaker. My excitement11like wildfire. Over the next two years, the story12many changes before it saw the world in the spring of 2011. My perseverance 13paid off.

    One day I was invited to speak to the students at a neighboring school. I confidently wheeled into a classroom filled with students who14at me just like the little girl in the pool.” How do you feel when you see me?” I asked them. The kids bravely15“ I feel sorry for you.”

    I opened my book and started reading. Immediately I noticed the children's stares turned to 16“ How do you feel when you see me?” I asked again. Without 17they replied, “ You are so cool! Does your18fly too?” I just smiled, “No, not yet, but maybe some day.” I knew in my heart that this was19The past two years had proven to me that with 20anything is possible.

    Many years ago, I was working in an office in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We had a large1that looked out over a busy street. I was standing by it one day when a woman in a2 car looked up and made eye contact. Naturally I 3. As she turned and tried to identify me, a quiet laugh 4my lips. My co-workers began taking an interest, and stood back watching the5I received, and laughing happily. Then the stress of work was6away.

    Christmas approached, and job 7 were announced. Several of my co-workers were losing their jobs, and everyone was8. While I was working a night shift, a red jacket, a box of foam (泡沫橡胶) packing and strips of tape in the corner attracted my 9 They could be Santa's jacket and beard! Then I folded a red file into a 10 and tied the beard to it.

    The next day I walked 11 down into the office in the costume. My co-workers 12 around me and laughed for the first time in weeks. Suddenly, my boss came up to me13 shook his head and then left. I feared 14. Then the phone rang.

    With a bead of sweat 15 my forehead, I entered the boss' office.16he laughed: “Thanks, Mike! It's been hard to enjoy the Christmas season. Thanks for the laugh. I 17 it.”

    That evening, I stood 18by the window and waved at my fans, with my heart 19with joy. For a few minutes of that day, we'd been able to forget our 20

    Born in America, I spoke English, not Chinese, the language of my ancestors. When I was three, my parents flashed cards with Chinese1at my face, but I pushed them 2, my mom believed I would learn3I was ready .But the4 never came.

    On a Chinese New Year's Eve, my uncle spoke to me in Chinese, but all I could do was 5at him, confused, scratching my head. "Still can't speak Chinese?" He 6me, "You can't even buy a fish in Chinatown."

    "Hey, this is America, not China. I'll get some 7with or without Chinese." I replied and turned to my mom for 8.

    "Remember to ask for fresh fish, Xin Xian Yu," she said, handing over a $20 bill. I9 the words, running downstairs into the streets of Chinatown.

I found the fish 10 surrounded in a sea of customers. "I'd like to buy some fresh fish," I shouted to the fishman. But he 11 my English words and turned to serve the next customer. The laugh of the people behind increased 12 their impatience. With every 13, the breath of the dragons(龙) on my back grew stronger—my blood boiling-- 14 me to cry out, "Xian Sheng Yu, please" "Very Xian Sheng," I repeated. The crowd burst into laughter. My face turned 15 and I ran back home16, except for the $20 bill I held tightly in my pocket.

    Should I laugh or cry? They're Chinese. I should feel right at home. 17, I was the joke, a disgrace ( 丢脸)to the language.

    Sometimes, I laugh at my fish 18, but, in the end, the joke is on 19. Every laugh is a culture 20; every laugh is my heritage (传统) fading away.

    Ten years ago I was visiting Costa Rica when I found I was in a bad situation. I only knew basic Spanish, and the only 1 I had was some coins and a return ticket to Guatemala in two weeks.

    With the coins, I managed to arrive at Santa Rosa by bus. It was 2 in the middle of the night, but I could see some 3 in the distance, so I 4  toward them.

    I went 5 door to door, explaining my situation. “I can 6 and clean and look after your kids, I can do anything, can you give me a 7 ?”Everybody replied saying “Oh my gosh, but we are so 8.We have no extra food. Maybe you can try the next 9.”

    Finally, I arrived at a Chinese restaurant, the owner of which was incredibly 10 .She told me that her son had a(n) 11 experience. At that time, some other people were very kind to him, and she remembered how 12 that made her feel. She called the Red Cross to 13me. With their help, I spent my 14 days in Costa Rica.

    I've 15 all over the world. But this was one of the best trips, the best two 16 I ever had in my traveling life.

    At first, I felt 17 and stupid for not traveling with a clear plan. But then I realized that when you're in a position to be able to 18, it actually makes people feel happier. Being able to receive kindness is a 19 for other people as well. And kindness 20 more kindness in small ripples(涟漪).

    It was the biggest night of my life—opening night. Hours of1and daily rehearsals had gone into this production. I had recited my line a thousand times,2that my one sentence would be the highlight of the show.

    As a 7-year-old boy, I was3to perform in an actual musical. The night before I had4my costume on the bed: a white shirt, blue jeans, and my handmade necklace. My5was going to be specially done. My lips would be in beautiful red. I was6prepared to be the shining star in my class's performance of the musical One Big Happy Family.

    A little time before the play, the backstage was complete7. My friend and I, dressed in our costumes, were giggling. Children were running around madly. Some were8about forgetting lines; others were singing various songs out of tune. It was a big group of9second graders about to make their first performance.

    Soon the big moment came, and we all filed onto the stage,10the audience of parents and relatives. The11began, and my second grade class started singing with sweet seven-year-old voices. I sang my little heart12, hoping to make the show as perfect as I d13.

    My turn to speak! The kid standing next to me handed over the microphone to me. As I started to speak, I noticed something had gone horribly14—the microphone was not turned on. The blood rushed to my face immediately.15, I turned it over and switched the device on. After saying my line as quickly as possible, I handed the microphone off and I just felt that I had16.

    “Everybody is excellent!” the teacher17us in the backstage. “I'm sorry, Miss Alex.” I said to her. “18to be sorry about, Honey.” She smiled to me, “Not every surprise in our life is always so pleasant. You did a good job!”

    I felt so19in a minute and I can hardly wait to tell my dad and mum the story of “the unpleasant20”.

    Skydiving isn't an activity for the faint of heart, but when you do it at 101 years old, you're pretty much a superhuman. On May 13, Verdun Hayes became the 1person in the world to complete a 15,000-foot tandern jump (双人伞), 2 the Guinness World Records he once set up.

    Verdun Hayes wasn't 3. He finished the jump with eight family members and two close 4 at Dunkeswell Airport in England. As they5to make the jump, the entire family looked nervous, but6as well. Hayes' grandson–in–law Ian Honnor, the organizer of the family's jump, told TODAY, "He was probably the calmest one on the 7. He had no fear and just loved it. He just wanted everyone to8it and be healthy." Honnor, who helped 9the outing, said this wasn't Hayes' first jump! "When he was more than ninety years old, his family kept telling him he wasn't 10 to do the jump. However, he didn't give up his 11. At the age of 100, he 12realized his ambition and became the first man of such an advanced age to 13a tandem skydive."

    This time he decided to shoot for the world record. "Because it's such a big14, it was decided that as many people in the family as we could possibly get were going to go15him," Honnor said. "He had four generations(世代) of his family in the 16at the same time—they ranged from age 16 to 101." The family held a big party to 17his achievement.

    Hayes even had some18for those people hoping to 19the same thing at his age. "Just keep your mind20occupied by positive thought and keep your body as fit as you possibly can," said Hayes. "Those are the two great things."