Confucius lived in the Kingdom of Lu, part of today's Shandong Province. September 28^th is his birthday. 1 he was born over 2,000 years ago, people still remember him on this day.

    His childhood was sad. His father 2 when he was only 3 and he had to work to help his mother. But young Confucius didn't 3 studying. He visited many famous teachers and learned music, history, poetry and sports.

    Later, he became a teacher and started the 4 private school in Chinese history. At that time, only children from rich families could go to school, but Confucius believed 5 should go to school if they wanted to learn. He had about 3,000 students in his lifetime.

    Today, people still follow his 6. He told us that each person has something worthy to learn and teach. “When I am with three people, one of them must be 7 than me in some areas. I choose their good qualities（品质）and follow them. I take their bad qualities and change them in myself.”

    He also taught us that thinking is very important in study. “All study but no thinking makes people puzzled（迷惑）. All thinking but no study makes people 8.”

    Confucius is not only a great teacher but also a famous 9 with wise thoughts about the world and society. His most important teachings are about kindness and good manners. “A kind person should care for others. Be strict 10 yourself, but be kind to others.” He said.

    I always believe that we can have a very important effect (影响) on anyone we meet. The right 1 at just the right time could change someone's life.

    When I was 3 years old, my parents found out I was 2. After asking many doctors and parents of other deaf children, they decided to 3 me in a normal (正常的) school.

    On my first day, the other kids 4 me because of my hearing aid (助听器) and the way I talked. 5 I seemed outgoing, my heart hurt a lot. Sometimes I was even 6 to go to school.

    Mrs. Jordan, my teacher, changed all of that 7 simple three words. One morning, she asked 8 a question.

    I put up my 9 right away after reading Mrs. Jordan's lips (嘴唇). She asked me to 10 and answer it. I breathed deeply and answered Mrs. Jordan's question 11.

    I will never 12 what happened next.

    Mrs. Jordan pointed at me. With sparkling (闪光的) eyes and a big smile, she cried: "13, Stephen!"

    For the first time in my young life, I got such a strong feeling of 14.

    At that moment, I decided that no matter how many difficulties I may face, I will try my best to 15 them. Just from those three simple words, my whole life changed from that moment.

    My father is an office worker. He works nine to five like most of my classmates' fathers. Like most other fathers, he cares a lot about his children. He cares about my health and how I am doing in school. He never 1 any parents' meetings in my school, and he shows up at my school sports day for me. Yes, my father is an ordinary(普通的)father just like the others' fathers.

    But2 most of the others' fathers, my father does a very different and special thing when he is not at work. My father is a 3 in a local hospital. He helps to take care of the sick people. He is happy to speak with them, listen to them, and 4read newspapers for them. Sometimes, he will take me with him, and when I'm there, I see that all the patients, doctors and nurses like my father very much. They always 5 and say hi when they meet him, and some of the 6 patients even run to him for a hug. This shows how 7 he is in the hospital.

    Besides helping in the hospital, my father also encourages us to take part in community services with him 8 he believes that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those 9 more. And he always tells us, "To make 10 happier, you should help others."

    I am glad to have a father who's willing to give and help. I am proud of my father.

    When I was 19 years old, I worked in a doctor's office as a medical assistant. I was shy and didn't 1  myself, so I  2 talked with others.  I was uncertain about my future.

    I met a doctor there and became good friends with him. He 3 me to believe in myself and asked me to learn to communicate with others. He helped me accept 4 , and then he encouraged me to5 one or two college classes. I did as what he told me and did very well.

    One day, he asked me where I wanted to go ten years later and 61 wanted my life to be like. I hadn't thought about this before that day. That night I 7 thought about the two questions. It was he that made me 8a different world.

    Later, I went to college and realized my9was to be accepted into a physician assistant training program. Unluckily, it was very 10and I couldn't afford it, I wanted to 11. When my dream was about to slip away, this wonderful man took me out one evening into a bar, bought me a bottle of beer, and offered to help me pay for my college education. He did it 12 asking for anything in return.

    A few years later, I asked him why he helped me. He said," 13 I knew you could be more than what you were, and because once, when I wasn't sure whether I could succeed and didn't have the money for school, 14 helped me."

    After hearing his words, I was shocked. I said, "Thank you, Joe! I will 15 the love to others!"