After thirty years in the classroom, I have come to realize that teacher's behavior can make a world of difference for a child. This is one such 1.

    While I was attending a party being 2 at a high school one evening, I looked around and noticed a young girl who looked 3. I thought she had been a(n) 4 of mine. I tried to remember her 5, but I couldn't. I felt so frustrated (沮丧的), 6 I have always been able to 7 former students.

    Her eyes met mine and she threw her 8 around me and said, “Mrs. G, it's me, Sarah, and I'm still 9!” The memories 10. You see, Sarah was 11 a student in my classroom. Sarah's mother had abandoned (遗弃) her, and her father had 12 her. She was sent to live with her grandparents the year I 13 her. Sarah was angry, often in 14 and often in the office.

    It was during one of those 15 visits that I first met her. She was writing. I introduced myself to her and asked her 16 she was writing. Sarah shared her story with me. I knew it was healing (康复) for her to put her 17 on paper. Every morning before school she would come into my classroom and we would work on her writing skills.

    Our conversation that evening was filled with 18. She expected to go to college. Driving home, I could not help but 19 the impact (影响) for both good and bad that teachers have upon their students. Taking the time to 20 with a child has the power to change that child's life. That's why I teach.

    Two student loggers (伐木者) each held an end of a saw (锯子). They set the 1of the blade (刀片) on top of an 8-by 8-inch square piece of timber (木材) and began to 2it back and forth.

    They began slowly and3 worked to a faster pace.4the piece of wood fell to the ground, the students passed the saw to the second half of their relay team, who then began to saw.

    When Nate Letarte, Julian Baldinelli, Allan Theriault and David Merrill from School of Applied Technology in Mexico, Maine, US finished the relay, people 5 applause.

    It was like that with each event at the 38th Annual Loggers Meet early this month at a field across from the Mt Blue Campus.

    About 50 students from nearby areas in forestry programs took part in the event. The programs 6 students to the many aspects of forestry-related 7, from cutting wood to using heavy equipment to managing a small business and 8wood products.

    At the annual competition, students had a chance to show their9 at using axes, operating logging equipment such as a forwarder (传送装置) and knowing 10 trees, among other things. They can also share their 11of chainsaws (链锯).

    Kyle Holman, a senior, said the event lets students see what they are 12in the forestry field.

     “Some of us didn't know how to run a forwarder and other kids did,” he said.

    During the 13event, students used a forwarder to pick up wood and move it.

    The event 14out the strengths in student loggers, and shows them the qualities and15they have, junior Matt Given said.

     “We're all one big community with the same 16” senior Christopher Cook said. “This event just gives us a chance to show what we have 17at school.”

    Marshal Elwell, a senior, said he and his friends travelled over three hours 18 the event.

     “I think I'm going to 19 in the woods for a while,” Elwell said, talking about his post-graduation plan. “I enjoy 20 equipment. I like being in the woods.”

    When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student, I believed I could1tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he2in class.

    When I took the first exam, I was3to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper,4English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained5.

    I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that6because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I7with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his8.

    One more test before the final exam. One more9to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time,10the meaning of the word “thorough”. But my11did no good and everything12as before.

    The last hurdle(障碍) was the final. No matter what13I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the14goodbye.

    I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even15myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have16with a test.

    A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into professor Jayne's office. He17to be expecting me. “If I gave you the As you18, you wouldn't continue to work as hard.”

    I stared at him,19that his analysis and strategy(策略) were correct. I had worked my head20, as I had never done before.

    I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.

    Jake was born healthy, but his parents noticed there was something wrong when he was 5. Jake 1 about 20 pounds in just six months. He kept putting on weight 2 eating only salad. In 2015, Jake was diagnosed with ROHHAD, a 3 condition that affects the brain and causes rapid weight gain. Only 75 cases have ever been reported, and 4 of the sufferers is known to have survived twenty years.

But Jake wants to fight for 5. Although there is no way to fully 6 the weight gain, he does everything he can to slow it down, including 7 competing in triathlons (铁人三项). Triathlons help him keep fit and active. It's good for his 8 and also gives him a chance to socialize with other kids. He 9 with the Malta Youth Triathlon Association three times a week.

    “He is extremely 10. He never misses a training session without valid 11 and is constantly eager to train,” Jake's trainer said. “Jake is very lovable and steals the heart of all who know him. It's heartbreaking to see what he has to 12. I look at his family with a mixture of 13 — despite the hardship they try their best to ensure that Jake gets as 14 a life as possible.”

    Everybody is more than happy to help Jake, and they 15 change event dates and training schedules just to make it easier for him to 16. He is always very determined, but due to his condition, he can't 17 himself to push his heart rate too high.

    Jake's 18 is to meet two famous British Triathlon players, 19 due to his disease, he cannot travel. After Jake's story was made public, someone 20 that he would do everything he could to make the boy's dream a reality.

    The big day had finally arrived. I had won the local speech contest(比赛),representing Madison Middle School. Here it 1the state competition. I waited backstage for the host to announce2name.

    3I had practiced much, I was extremely nervous.  My heart was thumping my palms4, and my mouth was dry. “Calm down,” I told myself. Still, picturing an audience of teachers, parents and classmates made me want5totally.

    Mr. Patrick6taught me to give speeches, reminded me, “You'll do great. You're prepared. You've come this far.”

    Mr. Patrick was right. I was ready7this, and besides, I won first place in the8contests. Yet, when I pictured9eyes on me waiting for me to mess up, my heart was gradually sinking into my stomach.

    “You10back out now,” I told myself as Mr. Nichols, the host, announced my name and the title of my speech, “My Hero.”

    My first-grade teacher, Mr. Gunderson, once told my class a story. A father is killed in a car accident and the son is 1 hurt. But when the boy arrives at the 2, the doctor on duty says, "I can't 3 surgery on this patient. This is my son!" Mr. Gunderson asked, "Who is the doctor?" Hands went up and my classmates shouted out 4, but they didn't arrive at the correct answer. Mr. Gunderson didn't let me 5 because he knew it would be very easy for me to understand that the surgeon was the boy's 6. I suppose that Mr. Gunderson's 7 would be a lot easier for today's first-graders.

    Being a doctor at that time, my mother was considered very 8 because female doctors were rare then. 9, to my sister and me, she was and is just Mom. When we were kids, we came home from school to a 10, who watched us until our parents came home. Mom took Friday off so she could spend more time with us, and we could tell that she felt 11 about not being home more often.

    My younger sister and I 12 at a fairly young age that this was Mom's weak spot, and we 13 it mercilessly whenever we wanted a new toy or snacks. I wish I had 14 doing that the first time Mom told me about one of her 15 who had died, but I'm sure I didn't. I can't imagine what it's like to spend all day taking care of other people's 16 children, some of whom are not going to 17 it, and then come home to find that your own kids are acting like that. We were just like 18 brats (顽童) then. I suppose she could have found our guilty weak spots to make us 19, but she never did. I think I'd better 20 her for that.