Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to 1 how much I wanted to see France; evidently, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I 2 that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and 3 friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was 4, nothing about my term in France was what I 5.

    The moment I arrived in Paris, I was 6 by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting 7 I received some shocking news from my program coordinator（协调人）: there had been a death in my host parents' extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to 8 out of one family's house into another. The exchange coordinator told me I'd have a 9this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation(诱惑) to 10my native language, I asked not to be 11 with an English-speaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I 12 myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian(巴西人), the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDS! In just a few hours, we knew we'd be good friends for the rest of the 13.

    I left France with many 14, so when people asked me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always 15 to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends16 France we enjoyed together. I love how people 17 seem so different, but end up being so18. The most valuable lesson I gained from studying in France wasn't just to respect the French people 19to respect all people, for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful 20.

    As a child I was always good at drawing and art. I won1 got constant attention, and even saw my face in the2 and on television because of my natural ability to 3.

    Most people who4 to come across something that they are good at are 5 to take it and run with it. Of course, my life was no6. From teachers, to principals, to family members7 seemingly had a ton of advice to give me in regards to art.

    All the while, my true desire was8 I entered poetry, essay, and short - story contests and9them all. It was such a contrast from my artistic10 experience! It was so bad that I11 a good friend of mine who told me once, “If you are so good at drawing why do you even care about writing?12 drawing!”

    Though well intended, eighteen years later I'm 13I didn't take his words to heart. Years went by with me still writing and still occasionally entering 14.It wasn't until my first year in college that I finally got honorable 15 in a poetry contest. As a writer I've truly 16.

    I'm sure there are things in your life that are17and yet, rewarding. Endurance (忍耐), especially when it comes to things you truly love is18. Take some time to devote some more 19to the “thing” that didn't come 20and see what happens.

    When I was in the third grade, Mother's day came around much too quickly; I found myself empty-handed with nothing to give my mom on her special day. So I was1when an announcement over the loudspeaker said that one of the older grades would be2pins(胸针)that said “Number-One Mom”. It may not sound like much, but to an 8-year-old it's3.

    So each day I4myself that the following day I would bring the money to buy the pin, but I always forgot. And I was5when the principal(校长)and a few of the older kids selling pins came into my6and announced that it was the last day to buy them.

    I always7my principal. She could be sweet, but sometimes she could be 8. If you break9, she was quick to set you straight, so I remained as disciplined as a 10before her.

    On this day, however, my principal was in a good11. And she must have heard me tell my classmates I'd12my money again. I wasn't crying, but she knew I really wanted to buy a13.

After she left, I got called to her office. I'd never been there. So I was terrified. When I arrived14, she told me to come to her desk, and she pulled out the pin I'd had my eye15for days.

    “The kids gave me this to give to my16,” she began. “But my mom passed away, so I want you to17it.”

    Taking the pin, I looked at it in my this hands. I didn't know what to say. I probably18her and walked back to class, and proudly presented this19gift to my mother.

    I don't know if my mom still has the pin, and I don't know20the principal remembers giving it to me. But I will never forget that act of kindness from someone I'd never expected it from.

Learn to Meet Challenges

    My classmates called me "the alien", and they avoided me like the  plague（瘟疫）. As a young boy, I1from a serious skin disease, which filled my arms with scars. The true2of my condition, however, was social: I lived a life of loneliness.

    Doctors predicted（预言）that I would never fully recover, but my parents encouraged me to hope for the future, teaching me that my difficulty could be overcome. I therefore took a/an 3 role in fighting against my disease, trying many medications and herbs, and my health 4 greatly before I graduated（毕业）. I realized that my personal5had led to this improvement. I regained self­confidence and made many friends at school.

    Years later, 6my personal battle against disease, I learned a great deal about7by overcoming difficulties.

    I joined the Culture Club as a Special Event Director. I8a group of six students in organizing various activities. I was the most advanced ESL student among the group. So I considered myself the most capable. But I quickly learned my9. While preparing for our first presentation, I was10with my team members and often rejected（拒绝）their11. I performed most of their tasks myself, allowing them to12me only with small details. As a result, the presentation was not very successful. The setback13me, and I spoke of it to the club's director. She responded that she14my ability to succeed in the future. This comment filled me with15, for I realized that I had never trusted my own team members. 16they were weak in English, they had many valuable talents. I immediately17my policy, allowing my team members to choose the tasks they desired and to complete them on their own. For our program, we had many meetings, which gave18to many good ideas. Most importantly, the atmosphere among us improved dramatically. We were19and eager to devote time to the program, and I learned what true leadership is.

    My experiences20improved my ability to handle challenging situations.

    Around twenty years ago I was living in Seattle and going through hard times. I could not find 1work although I had a lot of experience and a Master's degree.

    To my 2, I had to drive a school bus to 3my family. At the same time, I had some 4with different companies but they all5to say I did not get the job. I went to the bus barn（车库）, feeling6.

    Later that afternoon, 7doing my rounds through the town I had an inner wave rise from deep 8 me and I thought “Why has my9become so hard?”

    Immediately after this internal（内心的）scream, I 10the bus over to drop off a little girl. As she11, she handed me an earring saying I should keep it12somebody looked for it. The13was stamped with words “BE HAPPY”. Then it struck me. I had been putting all of my14into what was wrong with my life rather than what was15!

    One night there was a phone call for me from the16at a large hospital. She asked me whether I17do a one-day training for 200 hospital workers. I said 18and got the job.

    My day with the hospital workers19very well. I got a great20and many more days of work. To this day I know that it was because I changed my attitude to life.

    I met Mrs. Neidl in the ninth grade on a stage-design team for a play and she was one of the directors. Almost instantly I loved her. She had an unpleasant voice and a direct way of speaking, 1 she was encouraging and inspiring. For some reason, she was impressed with my work and Mrs. Neidl would ask me for my 2. She wanted to know how I thought we should 3 things. At first I had no idea how to answer because I knew 4 about stage design! But I slowly began to respond to her 5. It was cause and effect. She believed I had opinions, so I began to 6 them. She trusted me to complete things, so I completed them perfectly. She loved how 7 I was, so I began to show up to paint more and more. She believed in me, so I began to believe in myself.

Mrs. Neidl's 8 that year was, "Try it. We can always paint over it 9!" I began to take 10. I had been so afraid of failing but suddenly there was no failing—only things to 11 upon. I learned to dip my brush into the paint and 12 create something.

    The shy, quiet freshman achieved success that year. I was 13 in the program as "Student Art Assistant" because of the time and effort I'd put in. It was that year that I 14 I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing stage design.

    Being on that stage-design team 15 Mrs. Neidl changed me completely. Not only was I stronger and more competent than I had thought, but I also 16 a strong interest and a word I hadn't known existed. She taught me not to 17 what people think I should do. She taught me to take chances and not be 18. Mrs. Neidl was my comforter when I was upset. Her 19 in me has inspired me to do things that I never imagined 20.