Perhaps the most interesting person I have ever met in my life is an Italian professor of philosophy who teaches at the University of Pisa. 1 I last met this man eight years ago, I have not forgotten his 2 qualities. First of all, I respected his 3 to teaching. Because his lectures were always well-prepared and clearly delivered, students crowded into his classroom. His followers liked the fact that he 4 what he taught. Furthermore, he could be counted on to explain his ideas in an 5 way, introducing such aids to 6 as oil paintings, music, and guest lecturers. Once he 7 sang a song in class in order to make a point clear. 8, I admired the fact that he would talk to students outside the classroom or talk with them 9 the telephone. Drinking coffee in the café, he would easily make friends with students. Sometimes he would 10 a student to a game of chess. 11, he would join student groups to discuss a variety of 12: agriculture, diving and mathematics and so on. Many young people visited him in his office for 13 on their studies; others came to his home for social evenings. Finally, I was 14 by his lively sense of humor. He believed that no lesson is a success 15, during it, the students and the professor 16 at least one loud 17. Through his sense of humor, he made learning more 18 and more lasting. If it is 19 that life makes a wise man smile and a foolish man cry, 20 my friend is indeed a wise man.

    There are many kinds of friends. Some are always1you, but don't understand you. Some say only a few words to you, but understand you. Many people will step in your life, but only2friends leave footprints.

    I shall always recall the autumn and the girl with the3. She will always bring back the friendship between us. I know she will always be my best friend.

    It was the golden season. I could see the yellow leaves4in the cool wind. In such a5, I liked walking alone in the leaves,6to the sound of them.

    Autumn is a harvest season and7is uninteresting. The free days always get me8. But one day, the sound of a violin9into my ears like a stream flowing in the mountains. I was so surprised that I jumped to see what it was. A young girl, standing in the wind, was10in playing her violin.

    I had11seen her before. The music was so nice that I listened quietly. Lost in the music, I didn't know that I had been12there for so long but my existence did not seem to disturb her.

    Leaves were still falling. Every day she played the violin in the corner of the building13I went downstairs to watch her performance. I was the only listener. The autumn seemed no longer lonely and life became14.Though we didn't know each other, I thought we were already good15. I believe she also liked me.

    Autumn was nearly over. One day, when I was listening carefully, the sound suddenly16.To my surprise, the girl came over to me.

    “You must like violin.” she said.

    “Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop?” I asked.

Suddenly, a17expression appeared on her face and I could feel something unusual.

    “I came here to see my grandmother, but now I must leave. I once played very badly. It was your listening every day that18me.” she said.

    “In fact, it was your playing19gave me a meaningful autumn,” I answered, “Let's be friends.”

    The girl smiled, and so did I.

    I never heard her play again in my life. I no longer went downstairs to listen like before. Only thick leaves were left behind. But I will always remember the fine figure(身影) of the girl. She is like a20so short, so bright, like a shooting star giving off much light that makes the autumn beautiful.

    One morning in early fall, I found a pair of wild geese on our pond. The beautiful sight caught me by 1because we'd never seen geese there before. I2they would soon be on their way, so I enjoyed the 3to be close to them. I wondered where they came from and why they'd 4our pond.

    The next morning, the geese were 5our guests, so I watched them at a distance to show them I meant no 6 Still, I couldn't7 getting a closer look. I stopped by some trees near the water's edge and quietly looked at them through the8I was surprised to see that they were9me.

    As the days passed, I continued to see them every-day. They craned their necks and raised their heads10but seemed to realize I was a friend. Later, my11about why they were staying at the pond so long changed to concern. It wouldn't be long before the12winter came and the pond froze over.

    One day, as they were feeding in the grass, I discovered the reason for their 13--the male had a broken left 14 He was unable to fly, and his mate would not leave him behind. I asked a wildlife biologist friend what I should do. He explained that sometimes a broken wing will 15by itself and suggested tat I let nature take its course.

    On the first day of November, I 16sight of the geese running toward the pond, beating their wings with great effort. Both17climbed higher and flew over the pond. Then they turned back toward me, flying no more than 50 feet over my head as if to say goodbye. Then they were18.

    The season's first snow fell the every next day. The birds must have19that winter was coming and that it was time to go. I miss them very much now and I'll never forget their20to each other. We can all learn a lesson or two from this pair.

    One day while I was on the road,1 a corner with flowers and a flag where somebody special got 2.

    The next day when I passed this accident site again, I simply had to stop an d3a prayer and since I had some flowers in my car, I put them down next to all the other flower4.5I went back in my car I asked myself: “Why am I stopping here? I do not even know this person?”

That night I had a very6dream. All of a sudden this young handsome man7to me and said: “Hello! I am Rocky—please tell my mom that I am OK and that I8her” and then he disappeared.

    When I woke up, I could not get this young man and his 9out of my mind. I do not know Rocky and neither do I know his dear mom—so how in the world may I 10his message to his mother? I asked God to help me.

    About two weeks later I went to 11up my car at a nearby gas station. When I paid for my gasoline, I 12the lady's necklace which was13like a star. When she took my money, she said that the 14of her son are in there.

    I will never 15this moment when everything became still and so 16. I put my hand on hers and asked her: “What is your son's name?” and when she said “Rocky”, our eyes connected 17and were filled with tears. I was  18and not able to respond.

    I drove home sobbing. What I did should 19the young man's dream into reality. I then wrote a note for Rocky's mom, telling her that her20'baby boy' visited me in my dreams and the he wanted me to tell her that he is OK and that he loves her.

    My dad is my hero because he is brave, skilled，and respectful. I know many people say their dads are their heroes, but my dad 1 me about becoming a man, which is 2 important for a young boy.

    Respect goes a long way with my dad, as does patience. As a(n) 3 ，my dad must  4 people every day, some of whom are nice and some are not. Either way, he 5  his well-mannered attitude.

    Dad is not afraid of many things, or if he is, he doesn't tell me 6  he wants to seem tough. He may not be a big guy but since he works with his 7 all day, he is very strong. Dad works outdoors in all kinds of 8 but the worst thing he has to do is 9up and work in an attic (顶楼) in the middle of the summer. Trust me. That is the 10 place you will experience as an electrician and when you come back11, what is in your lungs will make you12for hours.

    My dad and I have a very good 13. We talk about almost everything. We go hunting, fishing, and everything a dad and son would do. My dad and I enjoy hiking 14 because it gives us time outdoors together and there is nothing like that. He has15 and taught me everything I need to know about16.

    I am17  to be the son of Mike C., and would not have it any other way. People come up to me all the time to18me I have a good dad. It makes me feel 19 that a lot of people think so 20 of him. He is a good teacher of my life and would do anything for me. This is why my father is my hero.

    The day I received my letter of acceptance to New York University, I was extremely excited. It was my dream university, and my1were pleased for me. But they also hadn't2me to get into such a competitive school. In fact, the best thing they ever did for me was to3me from doing things4indeed, when I was in elementary school, they offered to buy me a present5I got a C.

    It6when I was in third grade. An only child in an Asian family, I had just7with my family from Taiwan to Los Angeles. Months into third grade, I developed a strong feeling of8about getting bad grades. Seeing my anxiety, Dad said, "Kate, tell you what. If you get a C or9, I'll buy you a present. If you score higher than that, I won't buy you anything, because you won't10it."

    Clearly dad wasn't the11Asian tiger parent, pressuring me to work tirelessly for the best12, and neither was my mom. They didn't want to push. They wanted me to be13and healthy. Dad's14of a "failing grade" gift amazingly15my worries and pressure. What's more, I16getting A's and B's throughout high school, but without the added stress and fear of failing. I think it was my parents' lack of stress on grades that gave me17to encourage my own desire for achievements.

    I now realize I was18when I thought I didn't receive a present from my dad that day. He gave me two invaluable19the space to develop my own desire for excellence, and the healthy mind to20it.