Teachers selected from each district school for the Teacher of the Year competition were recognized.The competition's winner will be1in the spring.All those model teachers got me to think about some of my teachers through the years, and how they2me.

    My college adviser, J.C.Casey, had a big3on my life.She was a teacher and friend.She4me to consider journalism as a career.My high school math teacher,Kathy Cloud,took the time to5math to me in a way I could    6understand.I'd struggled with math until I got in Cloud's classes.She gave me the7to realize I could do it.

    My first-grade teacher, Darlene Dryden, held me back. Now, most people wouldn't8the teacher that kept them back a grade fondly, but Dryden has always been my9teacher.I was the youngest person in my class and very shy. She thought I10another year to mature before moving on to second11.She didn't make me feel12for having to repeat the grade.Instead,he made me feel13.I think I was her favorite, too.

    My senior year of high school, right before14,I wrote Dryden a note letting her know that I'd become a good student and was going to15and that she'd had a16in that.

    The Norman teachers17Wednesday are just a few of the many who are in the classrooms every day making 18in their students' lives.They may not even know the19impact（影响）they're having.I know it's not an20 job, but teachers, just remember that you're a Mrs.Dryden to somebody.

    Last week I talked with Mandy, a mother of a young teenager in my class. She was telling me how 1 it was for her son at school, because he is in a school uniform that doesn't 2 him as he's outgrown it. Since her husband and she both lost their 3 in the last couple of years, they have been searching and interviewing persistently (坚持不懈地). 4, unfortunately they are still out of work.

    Now I know the fact that they just can't 5 a new one. She wiped away 6 as she told me sadly that she is 7 trying to buy a new shirt, then trousers, then… then shoes.

    I know her well enough to know that she doesn't 8 want to get my sympathy or help. She's 9 asked for anything from me, either. She was just telling me the honest 10. I felt moved to go to the 11 to draw money out from my own account through ATM and come back with a bit of savings of my own 12 I believe I can spare. I told her to just go and buy the 13, and not to tell anyone that I did this but her husband.

    I also made it clear to her that nothing is 14 —no payback, nothing. It's a gift done, so I can enjoy 15, and that is all I need right now. I told her that she was also doing me a favor, 16 she let me know everything. She was so 17 for what I had done for her that she was moved to tears, but I really just feel happy that her boy won't continue to be 18 for his ugly uniform. I know what that is like, and as a victim of school bullying (恃强欺弱) when young, I can say 19 it hurts for a long time. I felt so 20 to be able to do this!

    My mother seemed to be able to make dolls (洋娃娃) out of anything. She made some dolls for me and my two elder sisters. I 1 playing with them, but still, secretly, I hoped for a store-bought 2like the one our rich cousin had. Her doll 3 open and close its blue glass eyes and even say "Mamma". I 4 stopped admiring it and hoping to have one.

    However, my dream 5came true when I was six. One day my father came back from his business trip with three 6 dolls! They were much smaller than our cousin's doll and their eyes were just painted ones, but I did not 7 such differences. They were 8 "store-bought" dolls. We each chose one and I named 9 Misako.

    Soon my sisters and I became devoted 10. Our "children" kept us 11 all day. We gave them a bath, 12 them, brushed their hair, took them out for a walk and put them to bed. Several months later, they got more like real children — their 13 and bodies became dirtier; their dresses got stained; their hair less smooth.

    But, by then, 14 interests seemed to have moved into 15 toys. Their dolls were abandoned (被抛弃) and in bad condition. One had 16 one of her arms, and 17 was one-legged. "You can 18 them if you want," my sisters said to me. Thus, I had 19 dolls. They were more or less handicapped (残疾) and they often looked at me as if they needed me to 20 them. I enjoyed this feeling of being needed — being the only one in the world who could protect them with a lot of love. Indeed, they made the rest of my childhood days very happy.

    LoAnna and Kris' kids were playing outside on a sunny Saturday. Suddenly LoAnna heard a huge sound, She 1outside to see a wide mud, sand, and rock 2down the hill. She phoned Kris 3and Kris sped back home. But traffic had come to a 4. Kris had to run.

    Suddenly, he heard a woman screaming for help. As he 5the sound through mud, he only saw an arm reaching up, holding a boy. Kris kept her talking while 6the wood, metal trapping the mother and child. Finally, he was able to 7the baby. By this time, other citizens had 8it to the site. With others taking the 9in rescuing the woman, Kris continued his way home.

    Soon. he heard a(n) 10moan(呻吟) from the ruins again. The man buried was about twice Kris' weight and, 11, he'd have to wait for more help. Hearing a helicopter above, Kris climbed up on the roof, and led a rescuer to the trapped man. 12the rest of the helicopter crew arrived, Kris left to find his 13. Hours later, Kris reached home. His truck was 14, and so were LoAnna and the others. He 15cars and houses nearby to find other 16and then walked back to the rescue team. Not long after he arrived, his truck came into 17. LoAnna pulled over and ran to him. He hugged her tightly and spoke 18, “Let's go home.”

    Over the next several weeks, 43 bodies were 19Just nine survivors were luckily pulled from the mud, all of them on that day. Kris was 20by the Red Cross for his heroic deeds.

    It was the last day of the final examination in a large eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors gathered, discussing the exam due to begin in a few 1. On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam before they went on to 2and jobs.

    Some talked of jobs they already had; others talked of jobs they 3get. With all this assurance(确信，自信） of four years of college, they felt ready and able to take 4of the world.

    The approaching exam, they knew, would be a(n) 5task, because the professor had said they could bring 6books or notes they wanted, requesting only that they did not 7each other during the test.

    After they entered the classroom8, the professor passed out the papers. And smiles9on the students' faces as they noted there were only five essay-type questions.

    Three hours had passed 10the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. Papers in hand, no one spoke as the professor faced the class.

    He looked at the11 faces before him, and then asked, "How many completed all five questions?"12a hand was raised.

    "How many answered four?" Still no hands.

    "Three? Two?" The students moved restlessly(不安地) in their seats.

    "One, then? Certainly somebody finished 13."But the class remained silent.

    The professor put down the papers. "That is exactly what I 14," he said. "I just want to impress upon you that, 15you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the 16you don't know. These questions you couldn't answer are relatively 17 in everyday practice." Then smiling, he added, "You will all 18this course, but remember — even if you are now college graduates, your education has just 19."

    The years have 20the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.

In May 2019, a friend who had previously been involved in the Restless Development Sierra Leone Business Brains project encouraged me to apply for the "Saving Lives II" project. Seeing this as an opportunity to move closer to my ambition of working in the medical field in the near future, I eagerly seized the chance. Fortunately, my performance during the interview led to me being awarded the role. 

Following the basic training, I was sent to volunteer in Kurubonla, a remote community located in the northern region of Sierra Leone. This assignment presented challenges such as limited road access and communication networks. At first, I felt concerned about being sent there, but with a determined mindset, I set out on the journey, driven by a passion to contribute to my country's development and to push my personal boundaries. 

As I got to know the community, I quickly realized that the challenges extended beyond language barriers and cultural differences; there was also a sense of isolation from my peers. However, I refused to allow these challenges to stop me. I threw myself in my duties, working together with local leaders and community members to identify the most pressing needs. Together, we carried out the projects aimed at improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure (基础设施). Additionally, I organized workshops and training courses to share my knowledge and skills with the locals. 

Over time, I witnessed the positive impact of our collective efforts. Healthcare facilities improved, the number of students in schools increased, and the overall quality of life in the community showed signs of improvement. These achievements were not solely mine; they were a testament to the cooperative spirit and commitment of the entire community.