Growing up in a bad home, I learned to protect myself by not speaking up. When I was a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (孩子), I didn't want to say anything about my bad life.

    I'll finish my{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(大学) this year, and want to be a popular writer. Then I will start speaking up. How did I get to where I am today? What helped me? That's the friends with care and love {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(围绕) me. They taught me how to slow down, to live on, to be{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(勇敢的), and be thankful for what I got. They also taught me to turn my past experiences into power.

    Now my {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(希望) is to help others to see what is possible even in the darkest of times. I don't think I'm special in any way. I am just a {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(普通的) man and have no difference with anyone {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(其他). I don't know what tomorrow might bring. But one thing I learn is that if we can hold on, and find ways to get through the {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(麻烦), we'll not only live on, but become strong {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (足够的).

    And with love of my friends, I'm looking forward to so much more than completing my education in the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(将来). I believe my dreams will come true.

    Are you facing a situation that looks impossible to fix?

    In 1969, the pollution was terrible{#blank#}1{#/blank#}（沿着） a river in Ohio. People thought it impossible to{#blank#}2{#/blank#}（被清理）up. The river was so polluted that it caught fire and{#blank#}3{#/blank#}（燃烧）. Now, years later, this river is one of{#blank#}4{#/blank#} （杰出）examples in the world for environment. But the river wasn't changed in a few days or even a few{#blank#}5{#/blank#}（月份）. It took years of work to {#blank#}6{#/blank#}（减少）the pollution.

    Maybe you are facing an impossible situation. Maybe you have {#blank#}7{#/blank#}（习惯）that are making your family crazy. Possibly you always fail your tests and you never work{#blank#}8{#/blank#}（努力） than before. Or you don't know how to control{#blank#}9{#/blank#}（你自己）so as not to be late for school again. When you face them, don't you want a quick fix and something to change immediately?

    For {#blank#}10{#/blank#}（大多数的）of us changes are little by little and need a lot of effort and work. Just be patient.