Before I came to college, I was sure I knew all about it, since I had met some college students and had seen more than my share of old "college" movies where the 1 belonged to "playboys" and the heroines to sophisticates(圆滑世故的人）. But, now, after one semester as a college student, many of my old ideas have2 completely.

    I used to imagine bossy upper-classmen, for example. I thought they would be know-it-all rulers of the campus who 3 freshmen for fun. I pictured being 4 to the wrong classrooms, being ignored. But, in fact, the upper-classmen turned out to be quite 5. They offered to help me and inspired me to6 my tough courses.

    The upper-classmen weren't the only ones I worried about. I was also 7 about the other freshmen. I was afraid they might think I was too fat, too shy, too 8, or even too dumb to bother with. 9, I was wrong. When I finally got to college, I discovered that most students felt exactly as I did. They were as uneasy with me as I was with them, and as we started to open up, we began to10 one another. We began to become curious about each other's backgrounds and interests; the differences among us actually became11.

    I changed my mind about other things too. I had 12 homework to be a book-filled nightmare, which would keep me from meeting 13 dates. I did have some 14 tests; I did break out in a clammy sweat, and 15 a stomach upset and a gigantic headache, but contrary to expectations, I passed all of my exams with good grades.

    I've always been 16. Then if the worst happens, I'm just ready for it. I have planned to live 17 this principle before. But after this, I know not all schools would be the same. This one 18 to be much better than I thought it would be — a good 19 in not jumping to conclusions. No doubt my 20 toward college will shift still more as I go on, but I know I'll never be as negative as I was before I got to college.

A Doll from Santa

    Alice's mother died when she was five years old. That year was 1925, and life was hard. Alice, who grew up to be my mother, told me that her family was too 1to even afford to give her a doll.

    One afternoon in December 1982, I was decorating the tree to prepare for the Christmas season. A young lady 2me with a sample of her handiwork: beautiful handmade 3. She was taking orders for Christmas. I decided to get one for my daughter, Katie, who was almost five years old. Then I had an idea. I asked the lady if she could make me a 4doll for my mother — one with gray hair and a pair of glasses: a grandmother doll.

    The doll maker felt that this idea was certainly 5and took it on as a creative challenge. So I placed my Christmas 6: two dolls, one blonde and one gray-haired for Christmas morning! Things really started to fall into place 7a friend had told me that his dad, who played Santa Claus in my area, would be willing to make a visit on Christmas morning to our home to 8my Katie her presents!

    Christmas Day arrived and at the planned time, 9did Santa Claus. Katie was delighted that Santa had come to see her at her 10house, the happiest I had ever seen her in her young life. My mother was enjoying watching her granddaughter's 11to the visit from this special guest. As Santa turned to leave, he looked once more into his bag and took out one more 12. As he asked who Alice was, my mother, surprised by her name being called, 13that she in fact was Alice. Santa handed her the gift, which was accompanied by a message card that read: For Alice,

    I was cleaning out my sleigh before my 14this year and came across this package that was supposed to be delivered on December 25, 1925. The present inside has 15, but I felt that you might 16wish to have it. Many apologies for the17of the gift.

    Love, Santa Claus

    My mother's reaction was one of the greatest deeply 18scenes I have ever witnessed. She couldn't speak but only gazed at the doll she had 19fifty-seven years as tears of joy running down her cheeks. That doll, given by “Santa”, made my mother the happiest “20” alive.

    I remember one of my last few years at an amusement park. I had spent about five years working a booth (货摊) across from a(n) 1 comedian (喜剧演员).

    His name was Moonie. He was 2 amazing, and his act was done using nothing but gestures and noises instead of 3. I remember watching his shows and always being 4 . Even when he was having a bad day, the audience wasn't 5 , or his tightrope skills weren't as good as he would have liked, he always 6 to keep things funny and fresh. That's a very 7 thing to do, considering I watched him do the same act for five years, several times a day, each weekend.

    When I heard it would be his 8 year performing at the amusement park, I had wanted to 9 him for all the amazing shows he had done on that stage. He was 10 with the crowd after one of his last shows of the day. As each person dropped a 11 into his big basket, he was pointing at them with a huge smile and then saying "No, you're the 12!" to each one.

    I 13 him and dropped a twenty-dollar bill into his basket. He turned to me then, smiling very brightly, and continued with another, "No, you're the greatest!" I 14 him directly and stopped him, saying, "No, Moonie, you are the greatest. I have been 15 your shows for five years from that booth right over there. And I just want to say thank you for the years of amazing 16 that you have given me.

    The look on his face said that he was truly touched by that 17 . He asked me what my 18 was and asked to shake my hand. I 19 and we shared a very deep moment of mutual (相互的) 20 and gratitude. I walked away with great happiness, and I know he did, too.

    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?

When I was a young boy I was in a poor neighborhood as a foster ( 领养) child. I was1 to spend lots of time alone. I would often wander the neighborhoods on my own and2 to help rake (用耙子耙平) a yard, mow a lawn ( 割草), or wash some walls3 some pocket money just to buy some clothes or candy.

Once I knocked on the door of an elderly woman and asked if she needed her leaves raked in the yard. She asked why I was not in school and I4 her my torn trousers and shoes, which were5 and no longer keeping my feet warm and6 . And when I finished the work she gave me some7 . She said, "I want you to buy some trousers and new shoes and8 school. I also want you to come back and9 me with your report card and I will reward you when I see you have worked hard and have some good10 ."

I returned several times to see the woman in the corner house and she did just as she11 . She looked at my report card and gave me a handful of dollars and a sandwich every time I12 showed her I had an "A" or "B". And over the next couple of years, she continued to be this13 influence in my life as brief as it was and I never knew her name.

I was twelve years old when I moved from that neighborhood into a different home, with another family. I will of course never14 the huge difference this wonderful stranger made over my life with her15 . This is something I hope to do myself in this lifetime over and over again.

Discovering a hobby can lead to amazing results, as Maria Martinez, an 11-year-old with a heart of gold, has proven.

Just over a year ago, Maria came across the world of clothes-making, thanks to one of the Christmas gifts she received. Little did she know that this newfound ability would become a source of joy and purpose, not just for her, but also for countless furry friends.

"I got a gift permitChristmas to start clothes-making lessons," Maria said. "I really liked it."

After mastering the basics, an idea came to her mind during a visit to a local exhibition. Surrounded by pet owners and their pets, Maria had an idea that would change lives. Why not create lovely bandannas (头巾) for dogs and cats and use them to support animal shelters?

With great interest and the support of her grandmother, Maria turned a corner of their home into a busy working room. Together, they made many beautiful bandannas, each one filled with love and care.

But Maria's wish went far beyond creating decorations. She began donating her works to shelters like Claws Forever in Fall River, hoping to catch the eye of some people who can take these dogs and cats home.

Maria also began selling them through word-of-mouth and at various events. "At first she started just donating the bandannas because it took her much time to make them. Then she got more skilled and was able to buy cloth with some extra income that she was making from it," her mom, Crystal, said. "Maria is a really kind giving person and she doesn't want for much of anything. It makes her feel good to donate. We are proud of her." Ranging from $3 to $7, money from her sales is now donated to shelters, too. A few weeks ago, she donated more than $200 to the Kingston Animal Shelter.

"They were happy and really grateful, which made me feel really good inside," said Maria. "It makes me happy to see how it's impacted the people and dogs."