As I sat motionless on the steps of the pool, watching everyone else swim back and forth, I realized that I had spent most of my life watching others enjoy themselves. It was then that I1a little girl staring at me with a look of confusion. I smiled at her, hoping to 2the ice by talking to her. Unfortunately, my3failed and she just kept on staring. My 4increased as a little boy swam up to me and said, “I feel sorry for you.”

    After the5a thought struck me, I had to change 6the world viewed me. Because it was children who stared at me the most, I decided to write a children's book that taught them about7in a fun way. This is when KatGirl, a super hero in a8who helps children that are being bullied, came into my mind.

    I quickly9inside my apartment and began creating the story. As I wrote each word, I could10my future as a world-renowned author and public speaker. My excitement11like wildfire. Over the next two years, the story12many changes before it saw the world in the spring of 2011. My perseverance 13paid off.

    One day I was invited to speak to the students at a neighboring school. I confidently wheeled into a classroom filled with students who14at me just like the little girl in the pool.” How do you feel when you see me?” I asked them. The kids bravely15“ I feel sorry for you.”

    I opened my book and started reading. Immediately I noticed the children's stares turned to 16“ How do you feel when you see me?” I asked again. Without 17they replied, “ You are so cool! Does your18fly too?” I just smiled, “No, not yet, but maybe some day.” I knew in my heart that this was19The past two years had proven to me that with 20anything is possible.

A Welcome Gift

    Dario and his mother loved their new apartment. The living room was large enough for their piano. That night, the two of them 1side by side at the piano. They played jazz music to celebrate their new home. The loud2filled the room and made them feel very happy.

    The next morning, 3, their happiness disappeared. Someone had left a 4under their door during the night. One of their neighbor had written to complain(抱怨) about the sound of the piano. Dario's mother asked the building superintendent(管理员) if he knew anything about it. But he said that they were all 5people and he couldn't imagine any of them had done that. Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their 6and apologize for their playing.

    “Maybe we could go and7everyone in person.” his mother said.

    “What if we invited them to come here for a 8instead? Dario asked.

    They both loved the  9. Over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts10their guests. They decorated the apartment with streamers(彩带) and party lights.

    Finally, the day of the party11. Some guests brought presents. Others brought flowers. Some even brought desserts to12. One woman, Mrs. Gilbert, 13Dario's mother with a book of piano music by Chopin.

    “I heard you playing the other night,” she said. “The sounds woke me out of bed. I14 that you might play like this every night. So I wrote a short note. I hope you don't think I disliked the playing.”

    Dario's mother smiled at Mrs. Gilbert. “I think maybe we15you an apology.” she said. “I didn't16how late it was when we were playing. Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.

    “You play, you play!” Mrs. Gilbert said. “I like what you play! Just not so loud at night.” She pointed to the book she had given them. “These songs are not such17music.”

    “These songs are beautiful music.” Dario's mother said. “We will be 18to play them in the evening.”

    “And we won't play so loud or late!” Dario said. He was already looking forward to19  the new music. More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother's face. It gave him a feeling of20and made him feel that they were home at last.

    Skydiving isn't an activity for the faint of heart, but when you do it at 101 years old, you're pretty much a superhuman. On May 13, Verdun Hayes became the 1person in the world to complete a 15,000-foot tandern jump (双人伞), 2 the Guinness World Records he once set up.

    Verdun Hayes wasn't 3. He finished the jump with eight family members and two close 4 at Dunkeswell Airport in England. As they5to make the jump, the entire family looked nervous, but6as well. Hayes' grandson–in–law Ian Honnor, the organizer of the family's jump, told TODAY, "He was probably the calmest one on the 7. He had no fear and just loved it. He just wanted everyone to8it and be healthy." Honnor, who helped 9the outing, said this wasn't Hayes' first jump! "When he was more than ninety years old, his family kept telling him he wasn't 10 to do the jump. However, he didn't give up his 11. At the age of 100, he 12realized his ambition and became the first man of such an advanced age to 13a tandem skydive."

    This time he decided to shoot for the world record. "Because it's such a big14, it was decided that as many people in the family as we could possibly get were going to go15him," Honnor said. "He had four generations(世代) of his family in the 16at the same time—they ranged from age 16 to 101." The family held a big party to 17his achievement.

    Hayes even had some18for those people hoping to 19the same thing at his age. "Just keep your mind20occupied by positive thought and keep your body as fit as you possibly can," said Hayes. "Those are the two great things."

    A businessman was in heavy debt. The sponsor cut off his investment (投资), 1 the supplier was urging payment. The businessman felt it 2 to get out of the trouble. He sat on a bench in the 3, with his head 4 in his hands, thinking hard on how to avoid bankruptcy (破产).

    Just at this moment, an old man suddenly appeared and asked him, "Are you in any 5?"

    Hearing the businessman's story, the old man said, "I can 6 you." The old man asked the businessman's name and then handed him a 7, saying, "Take this, let's meet here again in one year. I believe you will surely pay me back."

    "Oh, thank you very much, I promise I will."

    Then the old man left. The businessman 8 the $500,000 check, and found the signature on it was John D. Rockefeller, a billionaire's name.

    "So the problem was solved easily," the businessman thought to himself. Thanks to the check, he could possibly find a 9 to save his company. 10, he decided not to use the money until he had to. With such thoughts in mind, he became positive about his 11. Therefore, a second talk with the supplier went 12 and he gained the permission of 13 delay. After that, he made several deals 14. A few months later, he paid off all the 15 and his business improved and began to make profits again.

    One 16 later, he came to the park as 17, the $500,000 uncashed check in hand. Soon the old man came. The businessman was just about to 18 the check to the old man when a nurse ran over and seized the old man. "I 19 him," the nurse shouted, "I hope he didn't 20 you, sir, he always runs away from the nursing home and tells everybody that he is John D. Rockefeller." The nurse took the old man away with the words.

When I look back at the first half of the year. I am amazed by how many challenges I have been through. The biggest one was definitely my high school graduation 1.

When I first arrived in this Czech Republic four years ago, I was just a normal exchange 2who spoke only English, then at the end of the year-Long exchange program, I came up with the idea of 3my high school studies there.

At that time, I was only sixteen and delighted by my new future. What I underestimated was the 4of completing school in the Czech language, which is considered to be one of the most 5languages in the world. As I 6 knowledge of certain subjects I receive the worst marks and people around the world doubted whether I could graduate. However, I practiced all the time. Gradually, I could communicate with others fluently and my 7 grew.

The final exam day came. Thinking about everyone who had helped and supported me along my journey, I felt8and confident.

In May, I received notice that I had 9the exam. At my graduation ceremony, my Czech teacher said very proudly in front of everyone, "One student, she is from China with merely three years of learning Czech, she 10. She deserves a golden folder for the certification. "

My journey through high school was finally finished, though the journey of University is just about to begin, I think I am ready.

The Beauty of Creative Friendships

I recently walked through an incredible exhibition in Venice. It 1 about 75 art works that a Dutch-American artist created during the time he spent in Italy in 1959 and 1969. The pieces on show included his ink-on-paper drawings, some gestural drawings, landscapes and sculptures.

Born in 1904, de Kooning spent the majority of his artistic career as a (n) 2 but in 1969, while visiting Rome, he 3 an old friend, the sculptor Herzl Emanuel, who invited him to his studio and 4 him to try working with 5 .

At age 65, de Kooning 6 his first sculptural works, 13 small clay items. It was the 7 of a new artistic era for him and, over the next 15 years, sculpture became a (n) 8 and inseparable part of his career.

Later, after I left the exhibition, I was 9 by how beautiful it was that de Kooning began making sculpture because of the initial 10 and encouragement of his 11 . It got me thinking about the often unacknowledged role that some friendships play in the creative process of 12 across all types.

We often think about those friendships that journey deeply with us in our private lives, 13 us through emotional ups and downs. But friendships that develop our professional selves are also 14 .In offering courage, insight and clarity on the work that we produce, these friendships 15 the overall quality of our lives.