My previous home had a stand of woods behind it and many animals in the backyard. That first year, I1 feeding peanuts to the blue jays, then the squirrels. The squirrels had no2 coming up right to me for them. As the months went by, the rabbits saw that I was no 3and didn't escape. When I threw carrot slices(薄片)，they even came for a nibble(啃).Slowly they came to4 me, and by the end of the year they were eating out of my hand.

    That second year, the rabbits5 me, and one would even sit up for slices! While I was feeding them, I 6 that a groundhog who used to run away was now taking an7interest in this food situation. I carefully extended a long8, with a keen eye on those teeth, and 9,there were times I would have the groundhog sitting next to a rabbit, both munching(津津有味的咀嚼) on carrots. A few months later, while 10,she would even turn her back to me.11when she was facing away, I reached out and 12scratched（搔）her back with my finger, She didn't move.

    By year three, the rabbits and the groundhog were back. The groundhog 13didn't have a problem with me scratching her back, and I got an idea, I'd always14,while slicing up carrots, that the end looked like a cap.15one day, just to see what she would do ,I gently 16 one on top of the groundhog's head. Again, not a 17,The next time, I had my camera ready to record what you see here, one of several dozen such pictures,18she had a slice to eat, she never 19 the one of her head. It was a fair 20 —I got a pleasure, and she had yet another tasty treat.

    I can never wipe off the memory that I met my current stepmom for the first time. After I parted with my father for ages, I moved to America and was 1 with him. In the beginning, she made sure to let me know that I was welcome in her 2. I remember when I first saw her at the 3. It was different, but not 4. Over the past years there is 5 I needed that she did not provide. I'm the young woman I'm today because she made sure to 6 me properly. Yesterday I went to see her for Mother's Day. When I gave her 7, she held my face in both of her hands and kissed me straight on the mouth 8 I had the flu.

    Her simple act of affection 9 me back to my first night in America. After I was 10 up from the airport we went home and she11 my luggage and took me shopping for new clothes since the ones I had brought with me from Africa were a bit 12. That night before I went to bed, she came to my room, the first room I had ever had for my own. She told me she was 13 to have me and that she would take good care of me. Before she 14 she asked me for a hug. That was my 15 first hug and I was 11 years old at that time.

    I'm 23 years old now and I have received many 16 over the past years, but none has given me a greater 17 or deeper impression. I regarded her as my 18 mother because my new life began when I came to 19 with her. Today I say to my mother, Mrs. Sherrill Kirundi, thank you, mom. Thank you for your giving me my 20 childhood back.

    Two years ago, I was a typical girl with a rather plain life. When1to a local voluntary organization called “Peer-to-Peer” by a poster. I had no idea what this group was about.2, to learn more about it, I decided to attend a3, which changed my life.

    Just like the4suggests, everyone is considered a peer, including regular members and our leaders. This means we can5our leaders by their first names. We can also ask our leaders for help in6life situations which we know they will never7! When it comes to conversations about awkward topics like love, we are8not to be ashamed of ourselves.

    This organization's meetings9in our local library. We usually gather and communicate about10topics concerning our society education, equality and safety...This kind of communication helps us to make the right choice and11our mind. Sometimes we've gone outside in order to participate in12events. One event we had,13was “Give a cigarette- Take a candy” intending to14smoking.

    At this organization we are friends with each other and are a15community. I have also gained a lot of16experience by communicating with people and working in the team.

    With time going by, I have found an abundance of other17organizations such as “Give Good” and “Youth Initiative Center”. All of them have18me a great chance to develop my own personality and make my life19I'm sure I'll have a lot of wonderful20about my youth with me getting older.

    The summer before the ninth grade, procrastination(拖延 )affected my life in a deep way. With only a few days until the start of school, I had1just one of three homework tasks we were2Instead of enjoying my last few moments of 3, I spent that time doing homework, which was an4way to end the vacation.

    Putting in 100 percent5, I always started with strong6at the beginning of each school year.7I struggled to maintain that energy as the weeks passed.

    One night, my father and I were having a8about college. He told me, "It doesn't 9much whether you get into an Ivy League university or just a(n)10college-what matters is how you get there and what you do to11it". This really spoke to me, because it made me focus more on the12of my work rather than the quantity.

    Thanks to that conversation, I13the way I went through life. I started to 14 that trying my15best is a thousand times better than simply doing something to get it done.

    My effort began to16in my first year of high school. I had never17that my grades in some harder classes could be better than those in the easier ones I took last year.

    Now I would rather work hard for something and enjoy the18of success, than not try at all or give up halfway. Motivation can 19become a habit if you repeat a(n)20that helps you avoid procrastination.

"I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music. " These words are exactly from Pele. He is considered the greatest soccer player who has had a huge influence on the 1 world. His great 2 are not the only reason why he is my hero, though. He is also very kind.

When I play soccer, I often think of Pele, and then I will become very 3. I like 4 videos of his games because I can learn from all his moves. I 5 his skills and want to be like him one day. He started playing soccer when he was very young and 6 his professional career at age 14. He had surprising speed and skills in ball 7 and seemed to be able to make the ball do as he wanted.

I dream of breaking Pele's records one day. He 8 the record of scoring (得分) the most goals in a career:1,283. When he was 17, he was the 9 scorer in a World Cup Final. Pele is the only 10 to have been in three World Cup winning teams (1958, 1962 and 1970) and was named "South American Player of the Year" in 1973. Every time the ball was at his feet, some surprising, record­breaking feat (壮举) was 11 to be made by Pele.

Pele is also famous for his 12 for others. He is a 13 person and gives money to organizations that 14 children around the world and social services in Brazil. 15 ， he is also a member of many charity fund raisers. When he travels, he 16 goes out of his way to help children.

Heroes are people we admire and want to 17. Ney Blanco de Oliveira, Pele's personal friend for more than 40 years, 18 Pele: "My friend Pele is not only the19 soccer player in the world, but also one of the kindest human beings that I have ever known." These are also the reasons why Pele is my 20.