【推荐2】At times my mom has been uncomfortable seeing these qualities in me. For example, when I was 12, I went to Puerto Rico all by myself to stay with my ______ for the summer. My mom was extremely ______ about it. She kept telling me how things were different there, to always put on sunscreen, not to ______ away from my grandmother, and other ______ . But despite her worries, she let me go.

As I moved into my teens, she continued to give me ______ to grow and learn. When I reached my senior year, I found that I ______ from my peers. While many of them wanted to be ______ home, I couldn’t wait to be ______ in the world on my own. I had been looking forward to this chance for longer than I could remember. And ______ , while my mom was not happy, she was supportive. Sure, sometimes she would nag (唠叨) me about certain choices I made, but for the most part she did not stand in my way.

I realized that she actually trusts me, which ______ a lot. Most of my life, I tried to ______ my mother. I knew she expected ______ but the best from me. Sometimes it was hard to ______ her standards: getting a single B on my report card would make me feel bad because I knew she wanted me to have all A’s.

I know that her high standards have helped me focus on what’s important, like education. I am thankful for her support and ______ in my life. She is the strongest woman I know and that’s why I have ______ out so strong and independent.

【推荐2】Afraid to have a start, I was walking slowly into my first school in America. I had ______ a long way from India in order to join my parents. My father decided that I would go to school here, so I ______ a local high school in my new town.

With ______ and fear, I arrived at the classroom. Everyone’s eyes were on me as I entered the classroom. I went straight to the ______ and asked him if it was the right class. With a ______ voice, he answered, “Yes.” His voice comforted me a little. Then he asked me to ______ where I would sit. I selected the ______ closest to the door instead of the corner where all of the boys were sitting. I spent the rest of the class taking notes from the ______ produced by the overhead projector (投影仪).

______ it was my first day, I was confused about which hallway to use, but I ______ to get to my classroom without asking anyone. I wasn’t quite sure when I would have ______. It was noon when I went to my next class and the bell rang as I entered. I went through the ______ process of asking the teacher if I was in the right class. Feeling surprised, she said, “That is the lunch bell.” I felt a little ______. Without another word, I headed for the cafeteria.

I realized that all the confusion on my first day was like the difficulty I had to ______ to reach my goal. When I got on my bus and sat down inside ______, I said to myself, “Today isn’t so bad.”

【推荐3】Today marked my fifth violin anniversary. Five years ago I walked into a music shop and asked, “Do you______violin lessons?” I was standing in a room______with beautiful instruments and felt like a(n)______ in a new land. I had little______ in playing the violin although I had loved violin music for years.I wanted to learn to play it at that moment.

The music shop signed me up for______and it soon became clear to me how ______it was for a novice to learn to play the violin. I once watched an accomplished violinist play and it looked______. In fact, it was more difficult than I had expected. Little did I know there was______natural about the position in which one held the instrument. There was no margin (页面的空白) for error — a(n)______misplaced finger sent a note out of tune. If I had known how challenging it would be I might______ have started. However, my love for violin music conquered all the difficulties.______ it was a big challenge, I made it at last. I ______ first place in the violin contest in our city last year.

______ the past five years with my violin, I realize that I’ve_______ much more than how to make music. I believe______ are not failures. They are pointing you toward where to______ your attention. Besides, you’d better not ______ yourself to others. If you find you’re not as good as someone, you will feel a sense of frustration. If the despair creeps in and — you feel ______, remember why you started. For me, it was because I loved violin music and it made me happy. What’s more, remember that developing a new skill______ repetition. The more you practice the more you learn. Above all, you need to persevere no matter how difficult the situation is. I also think these lessons______ anything we take on.