Yours,

Li Hua

2 . War started in our house in late July with a month to go before my first day of college. It was a battle of wills over what college I was to attend. Mom wanted me to attend a famous ________ school, but I wanted to go to a small writing college. Every night for two weeks, we argued, shouted and gave ________ treatments until both sides went to bed with regrets.

It was mostly my fault. Since my junior year of high school, I had ________ at being a nurse. I took all the science courses, and even worked as a ________ in my town’s local hospital. My goal was to help the sick and be superwoman to the world.

However, as graduation and college neared, it all changed. Treating the sick was ________, but I came to realize it was not what I was meant to do for the ________ of my life. I could picture myself in hospitals, making rounds(查房), and taking temperatures, and ________ I couldn’t picture myself happy. It wasn’t the future I wanted.

Then, I realized I had been creating and writing stories for as long as I could ________. I loved it, and writing was what I had been doing as a ________. It was going to be my career. And it had to be.

On August 1^st, Mom and I sat down at the dinner table and I told her that she had every ________ to choose where to spend her money, just like I had every right to decide where I wanted to go to school. If it was her choice not to ________ any of my college education, then I would take a year off to work and earn money so I could go to the college I wanted.

Standing by my decision to be a writer had proven my firm belief to my mom. Finally we were at ________, and she decided to support me, which ________ the world to me.

Before that time, I had never stood up ________ my parents on any major decision. Choosing which college to attend allowed me to become a separate and ________ adult. I am now finished with my first semester(学期)as a Professional Writing major and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

3 . About five years ago I started at a new school when my family moved to Iowa. I was just a little excited, but I worried I would never fit in with (适应) the other sixth graders.

Lucy, a girl in my class, who I thought was not ready for change, didn’t like me from the start. In fact, I was sure she hated me. I could tell she thought I was a fool.

My teacher made us sit by each other for the last term. Lucy was surprised that I didn’t wear make­up (化妆). I didn’t exactly look like the coolest girl. But, I kept smiling at her, though she rolled her eyes, and I kept telling her she looked beautiful, even when she was angry.

Finally, Lucy let me talk to her, even in sight of her “cool” friends. She started telling me how beautiful I looked. I still remember that first time when she smiled at me saying that, and I smiled right back, telling her thanks. Lucy invited me over to her house for a party, and talked to me all the time instead of her other friends.

I may move to Arizona after that, but I will never forget Lucy. She was a great friend. I still smiled at Lucy when she made fun of me. I’m not stupid, I didn’t think she was right in doing those things, but I still put up with (忍受) it. And we became great friends.

About two weeks ago, I read a sentence by Abraham Lincoln: “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?” Immediately, I smiled, thinking of Lucy.

9 . It is a touching story which won't be forgotten. An old gentleman reached the hospital at 9:00 am. I heard him saying to the nurse that he was in a hurry for an appointment at 10： 00.

The nurse had him take a _________ in the waiting area, _________ him it would be at least 35 minutes _________ someone would be able to see him. I saw him _________ his watch and decided, since I was_________ busy --- my patient didn't _________ at the appointed hour, I would examine his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment.

The gentleman said no and told me that he _________ to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his _________. He told me that she had been _________ for a while and that she had a special disease. I asked if she would be __________ if he was a bit late. He replied that she __________ knew who he was, and that she had not been able to __________ him for five years now. I was __________ and asked him, “And you __________ go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?”

He smiled and said, "She doesn't know me, but I know who she is." I had to hold back __________ as he left.

I hardly remember my grandmother. She used to holding me on her knees and sing old songs. I was only four when she passes away. She is just a distance memory for me now.

I remember my grandfather very well. He was tall, with broad shoulder and a beard turned from black to gray over the years. He had a deep voice, which set himself apart from others in our small town, he was strong and powerful. In a fact, he spent a lot of his spare time read books. In short, he was the gentlest man I have never known.