【推荐2】On the first day of my school life in the USA, I showed a great interest in my marketing class. My teacher, Mrs Tolman, suggested I ________a national marketing club called DECA attracting many students with talent and interest in ________. So I did.

The first ________ was to collect money for the marketing competition later in the year by selling candles. Mrs Tolman said the competition was due in a week and that 40 percent of the ________ would go into my personal account.

At the beginning, I tried to sell some candles to my host mum. She said that if I could ________ confidence and do a wonderful sales presentation, she would certainly buy some. I started my presentation with a ________ handshake. Then I introduced all the different kinds of candles and the special sales I could offer and made her ________ that our candles were the best choices for gifts and home decorations. Finally she bought three candles.

Greatly ________, I decided to sell my candles around the neighbourhood. On Saturday morning, with great courage, I knocked at the door of my first potential ________.

“I’m a student at Skyline High School and we are raising money for DECA. I’m trying to sell...”

“Not today, sorry,” the man interrupted me and ________ the door.

Embarrassed, I walked away and said to myself the worst thing that might happen was being refused like that again. I couldn’t even count how many times I was ________ with reasons like “Not today”, “I don’t have any extra money right now” or “I just bought some”.________, I had to continue with the day. Finally, a woman kindly bought nearly $60 worth of candles. I couldn’t even hide my________and said “Thank you very much.” to her with a bow.

After a week’s hard work, I turned in my $408 worth of sales of candles, which gave me $163.2 in my own account. I was ________ to find out I was the second highest seller in all classes.

It was the first time that I had worked as a salesperson. Now I look back on this experience with satisfaction, and I feel glad that I did not ________ in face of difficulty.

【推荐1】My mother, Donzella Washington, 80, graduated from Alabama A&. M University on Dec. 6 with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Along with her _________ achievements, she made history as the oldest _________ in the history of Alabama A&. M University.

My parents had been living on a farm in California. My mother said that her _________ behind going back to school was my father, Jeff, who was her biggest _________. He supported everything she did, _________ returning to school. Although my father did not have a traditional college education, he knew the _________ of gaining one. My mother wanted to finish her _________ in his honor.

However, my father _________ in 2010, and my mother _________ to Alabama to live with me two years later. The most challenging part was __________ her when she was missing my father badly. Those moments when she cried, all I could do was hold her and love her. I had seen my mother __________ from great sadness over my father’s death and struggle to achieve her education dream. And I was very __________ to be there to witness her final success.

Now, my mother says she is not slowing down so soon. She’s even __________ going back to school to obtain her master’s degree. She __________ to inspire and motivate others that __________ is not a barrier. When it comes to pursuing your dreams, it’s never too late to achieve them.

【推荐3】I used to have a “dream job”. At least, that’s how many people saw it. It was a highly   desirable government position that included a guaranteed _______ and a lifetime medical plan. It was also nearly impossible to get fired. But I was _______ every day. As soon as I _______ in work, all my energy—and in turn, all my desire for life—faded away.

Instead, I thought about my side business. For a few years, I’d been _______ an auto shop in my home garage. I _______ in repairing classic cars. At one point, I hung up a picture of my favorite automotive shop as a source of _______. I knew the owner’s story well: He has a _______ work schedule, but his passion for work never faded.

In 2019, one of my clients offered me an actual industrial space to upgrade my shop. I was _______ to say yes. Could I really expand my business and keep my government job? Was it wise to give up something with so much _______?

Then it dawned on me: The “dream job” had a guaranteed retirement plan for people who work there for 30 years—but after 30 year, would elderly me look back and ________ not seizing the opportunity to do things on my own terms? I had my ________ .

In 2020, I left the dream job to run my business full time. In 2021, I somehow kept the business afloat, and we________ into a shop that’s double the size. The print that meant much to me back then deserved a place at my new location.

It is now proudly ________ in my humble shop. It serves as a reminder to hold myself to my passion. ________, this path has not been easy. Since starting my own business, never in my life have I been so tired and frustrated. But I live on my own terms and ________ every second of life.