1 . If the kids don’t fall, they don’t learn to get up. I still remember the day in high school that my mom forgot to pick me up from school. I’m the oldest of four children, and no doubt she’d had a long day with the other kids and it’d slipped her mind. After waiting at school for an hour, I walked the three miles home, and when I got to my house, I shut our front door with anger, stormed into the kitchen and screamed in my mom’s face that she’d forgotten me.

Later that night, my dad told me I no longer had a ride to school the next day. I figured my mom would still take me, but when the morning came, she refused. It was midterm, and as a straight A student ready to start college applications, being late wasn’t an option (选择). In my mind, missing these tests would have been the end of my academic career. I begged my mom. I told her she was ruining my future and everything I’d worked for. But she just held her ground, and that day, I walked to school. And I missed my tests.

My mom didn’t save me from failure. She let me suffer from it. She let me figure it out. She let me learn. Now, as a mom myself, I’ve realized that I want my kids to experience failure because failure is how we grow, learn and think outside of ourselves. It’s how we self -educate to learn what’s right and respectable, and what’s not. It’s how we become responsible and enthusiastic. Falling down makes us better because we learn how to get up.

2 . Love your parents

Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling （满意的）part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part a source of who you are. Here are some ways to love your parents.

    1     A gentle "good morning" and "I love you" will warm a coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world. Without your parents, you might sill wander at an unknown corner in an unknown world.

Respect them more and cherish（珍惜）these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them when you're off on your own. It's OK to get angry but angry actions don't help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, journal about your feelings, or talk to a friend.     2    

Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don't get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it's cold, raining, snowing, or too hot. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.     3     Since you can forgive your friends, why not forgive your parents?

Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them.       4     Listen to their old stories and learn from them. You will find they are your teachers in this way or another.

Some people simply may not be able to love their parents. .    5     Look for help if you are being abused violently. Parents do not have a right to harm you.

3 . I remember I was just eighteen when Grandma Julie died. Until the lawyer read her ________, I never fully ________ the depth of Grandma's love. It was a moment I will never forget — a day that made me the ________ kid in town.

After ________ the distribution (分配) of Grandma's legacies (遗产), the lawyer said, “There are three more things.” He ________ his bag and brought out a small ________ box, which contained my Grandma's wedding ring. “These letters and notes are also for you,” he ________.

Grandma's letter began, “Dear Jeffrey, I'm ________ you one of my most precious treasures-my memories. These memories are the letters your ________ wrote me. They are ________ -a(n) ________ that will teach you how to love and understand people, and how to respect and maintain your integrity (正直). When you read them you will ________ the love and passion of a good man for a good woman, and you'll learn how love can become the ________ of your life.”

“I have been ________, since I loved a wonderful man who also loved me. Love is like a beautiful ________you store in an album. You can enjoy its beauty each time you stare at it ________. Please learn from them. Then find the right girl to love and love her ________. This love will ________ both your lives and make you both happier.”

“As for being valuable, save the envelopes. It's said the old ________ are worth far more than the rest of my wealth. And, the personal hand-written note from General Pershing is even more valuable than the stamps. Have a ________, meaningful life. God bless you.”

Here is my idea about how a friend is like. Firstly, a friend is someone you can share your secrets to. If you tell him a secret, he would never talk about it with anybody else. Besides, a friend is always good listener when you need one. After hear your sad stories, he will say some words that is nice and warm. Still, your happiness makes him happily too. What’s more, a good friend is willing to offer the help to which you need, or can at least give you some advices. In a word, friends are those you like and trust, and you will enjoy every minute that you spent with them.

I’m sorry to learn that you are having such a bad time.

Yours,

Li Hua

10 . When I first entered high school, I knew no one at my school. All my friends in middle school went to other schools. I wanted to make some new friends. However, I was shy and wasn’t good at making new friends.

On my first day at school, I looked at others who were walking in groups happily. How I wish I were one of them! I guess I was very lucky then. At lunch in the dining hall, when I was eating at a table alone, a girl came to me. “Excuse me, is this seat taken？” she asked. I immediately shook my head. She smiled and sat down opposite (对面) to me. I felt a little awkward and didn’t know what to say at all, but I really wanted to communicate with her. It was a good opportunity(机会) to make friends with her. When I looked up, I found she was smiling at me. Her smile calmed me down. “I really like this school. It's beautiful, but I don't know anyone here. All my friends went to other schools,” said the girl. Hearing her words, I immediately said, “My friends are not here, either. Can we be friends？” I was surprised. I couldn’t believe I would say something like that, and to my surprise, that girl immediately said “Yes”. We both smiled. We became very good friends.

Now it’s the beginning of a new term again. Many students may have no friends at their new schools. If you are also as shy as I used to be, please don’t be afraid to talk to others. You may get a surprise and make a new friend. After all, others want to make new friends, too.