My elder brother,Steve,in the1of my father who died when I was six,gave me important lessons in2that helped me grow into an adult.For example,Steve taught me to face the3of my behavior.Once when I returned in4from a Saturday baseball game,it was Steve who5the time to ask me what happened.When I6that my baseball had flown through Mrs.Holt's basement window,7the glass with a crash,Steve encouraged me to apologize to her.After all,I8not have played in the path between buildings.9my knees knocked as I explained to Mrs.Holt.I10to pay for the window if she would return my ball.

    I also learned from Steve that11property is a sacred（神圣的）thing.After I found,a silver pen in my fifth-grade classroom,I wanted to12it,but Steve explained that it might be important to13else in spite of the fact that it had little value.He reminded me of14I'd hate to lose the small dog my father gave me to someone else.I returned the pen to my teacher,Mrs.David.

    Yet of all the15Steve gave me,his respect for16is the most vivid in my mind.When I was twelve,I killed an old brown sparrow in the park with a BB gun.17with my accuracy,I screamed to Steve to come from the house to have a look.I shall never forget the18he stood for a long moment and stared at the bird."Did it19you first, Mark?"he asked.I didn't know what to answer.I really felt terrible then,but that moment20out as the most important lesson my brother taught me.

    I have a deep wish to serve the needy（生活艰苦的）.I 1with the thought of kindness. My parents also inspired it in me by not only 2 but also showing how it's done.

    It always 3me to see the poor and homeless on streets suffering in the cold.  So one cold morning, I brought some sweaters and biscuits and put all of them in a bag and left 4 such needy people.1 wandered for miles. Then I saw the 5 One. He was an old man sitting on a street. I didn't say a word.6 ,I stood beside him quietly.  He 7 at me and asked if I had something to eat.  I was so excited that I could 8 help a person all by myself.  I brought out a sweater and a pack of biscuits and 9 them over to him. He thanked me again and again and his face lit up with 10.I sat beside him and we 11 for a while.  I asked him all about his problems. Then I 12 my search for more homeless people.

    I 13 many needy people that day. It was quite14 that l was even happier than them as I got a chance to 15 the poor.  One thing I learned from talking to all those needy people was that they never complained（抱怨）about their 16 or how unfortunate they were or how bad the life was for them. They all had the 17 0f soldiers inside them, fighting without complaining and with a 18 that some day all this would be over.

No one 19 about it, not even my parents.  1 wish to continue my act of kindness secretly in future because helping others does make me feel happy and 20

    When I was a boy we had several gardens around our old house. The largest one of all was used just for 1 potatoes. I can still remember those potato 2 days. The whole 3 helped.

    4 my Dad had tilled(耕地)the soil，my Mom，brothers，and I went to work. It was my job to 5 the little seed potatoes in the rows while my Mom dropped 6 of fertilizer (肥料)beside them. My brothers then covered them all 7 the freshly turned earth.

    For months afterward I would 8 over at the garden while I played outside and wonder what was going on underneath the ground. When the harvest time came I was 9 at the huge size of the potatoes my Dad pulled out of the soil.

    Those little seedlings had grown into sweet food. They would be 10 meal after meal of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, and my 11 favorite: potatoes cooked in spaghetti sauce.

They would 12 the entire family well fed throughout the whole year. It 13 was a miracle to be held.

    Thinking back to those special times makes me wonder how many other 14 I have planted in tills life that have grown 15 in the hearts and minds of others.

    How many times has God used some little thing that I said 16 did to grow something beautiful? How many 17 has Heaven used these little seedlings to 18 another's soul with sweet food?

    I hope then you always 19 the garden around you with care. I hope that you plant only goodness, peace, and20 in the lives of everyone you help. I hope that everyday you help miracles to grow.

    I remember sitting in an airport one day, waiting for my flight. I was1because I had a first-class(头等的)ticket. And in first class, the seats are2and the food is more delicious. Actually, I had the best seat on the whole plane! Seat 1A. Before boarding, I3a young lady who had a big suitcase(手提箱)and several carry-on bags was holding a crying baby. 4, the handle(把手)of her suitcase broke and the suitcase fell to the floor. She tried5the case and her bags landed on the floor, too.

    "Let me help," I said to her.

    6 her suitcase over my left shoulder, put her bags on my right and asked, ''Where to?"

    "Gate 20, "she said, and showed me her ticket. Seat 24B.

    "Oh, we are on the same flight.''

    Boarding started, and I7that she needed the first—class ticket. ''It looks like you could use this first-class ticket more than me. I know how8it can be flying with a kid. Why don't we trade tickets?''

    "Are you sure?" she asked.

    "Yes, just take my ticket and give me yours. I really don't9. I'm just going to be working the whole time, anyway.''

    "That's very kind of you," she said, and expressed her10as we traded our tickets.

    Then we boarded the plane. I was surprised at the good11it gave me while watching her sit down in seat 1A. In fact, seat 24B or12I was sitting didn't seem that bad at all. At one point during the flight I really wanted to see how she was doing. So I13, walked to the first—class section, and had a look. There she was with her baby, 14asleep. Seeing they were sleeping in big and15seat 1A, I felt like a million bucks. I've got to keep doing this kind of thing.

In May 2019, a friend who had previously been involved in the Restless Development Sierra Leone Business Brains project encouraged me to apply for the "Saving Lives II" project. Seeing this as an opportunity to move closer to my ambition of working in the medical field in the near future, I eagerly seized the chance. Fortunately, my performance during the interview led to me being awarded the role. 

Following the basic training, I was sent to volunteer in Kurubonla, a remote community located in the northern region of Sierra Leone. This assignment presented challenges such as limited road access and communication networks. At first, I felt concerned about being sent there, but with a determined mindset, I set out on the journey, driven by a passion to contribute to my country's development and to push my personal boundaries. 

As I got to know the community, I quickly realized that the challenges extended beyond language barriers and cultural differences; there was also a sense of isolation from my peers. However, I refused to allow these challenges to stop me. I threw myself in my duties, working together with local leaders and community members to identify the most pressing needs. Together, we carried out the projects aimed at improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure (基础设施). Additionally, I organized workshops and training courses to share my knowledge and skills with the locals. 

Over time, I witnessed the positive impact of our collective efforts. Healthcare facilities improved, the number of students in schools increased, and the overall quality of life in the community showed signs of improvement. These achievements were not solely mine; they were a testament to the cooperative spirit and commitment of the entire community. 

In a small village called Brightville, there lived three friends: Kimberley, John and Alicia. They were all students at Brightville High School, each displaying unique 1 . Kimberley, a hardworking girl, always 2 for excellence. John, with his 3 spirit, always sought new experiences. Alicia was a kind and helpful girl. They shared a common dream of achieving their goals through 4 .

On a sunny day, the three friends 5 at their favorite spot near the village river. They often met there to discuss their dream and 6 each other. Kimberley always stressed the importance of setting goals. John loved exploring new things and finding 7 ways to learn. Alicia, with her caring nature, listened 8 and offered words of encouragement.

One day, they 9 an old abandoned（废弃的）library in the heart of village. Kimberley saw this as a（n）10 for their dream to come true. She suggested turning the library into a learning center for the village.

The three friends spent months cleaning and 11 the library. They reached out to the villagers, and soon, volunteers 12 them to set up the learning center. They created a friendly and 13 environment where students could come to study, read books, and seek help.

News of the learning center spread quickly, 14 students of all ages and backgrounds. The three friends devoted their after-school hours to tutoring the students. They understood that education was about developing curiosity and 15 for learning.