1 . As a teacher, it has been my goal to teach my students to become active and responsible members in the community, the nation, and the world. Over the years, my students have made great differences in our community, but saving lives was not really part of our plan.

In a January, the students asked why I was upset, so I sadly told them the story. A young man in my neighborhood hit his head while ice skating. Although sent to the hospital at once, he died a few days later.

Hearing this, the class began to study head injuries. When my students learned about the dangers, they did careful research before deciding that the best solution was a helmet (头盔) policy that would require all students to wear a helmet if they rode on a bike, skateboard, etc. By showing how important it was, they had the policy passed in the community. They also got a grant (拨款) to buy helmets to be sold at a lower price or given free to students.

After Spring Break that year, a mother came to our class to tell the students that they had saved her daughter’s life. With tears in her eyes, she said that her daughter hit a parked car while riding down a hill. Thankfully, she was wearing a helmet given by my students, which, according to the doctor, had prevented serious brain damage or death.

Since then and over the years, my students have solved many problems in our community: getting a path along the road to school built, changing the lunch program, and the list goes on and on. Each of these ideas was chosen, researched, and presented by the students. My role was that of a guide. Yes, I truly believe that eleven- and twelve-year-old students can make a difference as they become helpful and valuable members in the community.

2 . In November of 1902 President Theodore Roosevelt, a noted hunting enthusiast, had been invited to join a bear hunt near the town of Smedes, Mississippi. When the President had initially proven unsuccessful on this hunt, guide Holt Collier determined to find a suitable quarry (猎物) for Roosevelt.

Tracking a 235-pound bear to a watering hole, Collier knocked out the unfortunate bear and tied it securely to a nearby tree. A messenger was sent for the President, but when Roosevelt arrived he was unimpressed by the sight of a bound, dazed and bleeding bear. He had been shocked and disappointed by this unfamiliar method of hunting, using packs of dogs to track, flush out and wear down the prey while the hunter need only lie in wait for the animal to be driven to him. This was far from the physical challenge Roosevelt was accustomed to and fond of. He not only refused to claim the bear himself, but forbade anyone else from doing so as well. Regrettably, the rarely repeated resolution to the story does not include a happy ending for the bear. Seeing the condition of the injured bear, which had been badly bitten by the dogs, Roosevelt asked that it be put out of its misery.

Reporters with the hunting party soon spread news of Roosevelt’s fair play nationwide. Among those inspired by the story was Washington Post political cartoonist Clifford Berryman, who produced a wildly popular cartoon of the incident. New York City storeowners Morris and Rose Michtom were further inspired by the cartoon, and Mrs. Michtom produced two stuffed bears for sale in their shop. The Michtom family even claimed to have written to Roosevelt and received permission to attach his name to the toy. “Teddy’s bear” swiftly became a hit, and later an enduring pop-culture symbol that has long outlasted its inspiration and namesake.

3 . Maria and her parents moved to the US from Brazil one year before the pandemic (流行病). Better education opportunities lay ahead, and they were excited to get Maria into an American high school to prepare for college.

Each parent got a job, and Maria started studying. She also signed up for a service club because she wanted to meet people, practice her English and be a part of the community. “I love to serve,” Maria says. “I think it is my thank-you for the opportunities I have.”

She worked at the local food bank with other kids of her age, organizing bags for families who were having a hard time making ends meet. But when the pandemic hit, she found herself at the food bank for another reason: to bring home groceries to her parents. “We were all shocked when my mother lost her job. My friends at the food bank got me through it,” Maria said.

Luckily, her father kept his job. And with classes moving online, Maria was able to secure a full-time job and do her class work at night. Three of her courses were college prep classes that demanded a lot of work. During her senior year, Maria worked 40-hour weeks and studied even more. Yet, in her spare time, she packed food bags for others before taking hers home.

Just before graduation, Maria came into the food bank. One of the volunteers started getting a bag ready for her. “I don’t need one today,” Maria said. “My mother got a job. I’m here to help.”

Maria supported her family for eight months. She graduated on time and got scholarship offers from three different colleges. She moved to part-time work and has completed her first semester of college.

4 . When I was nine years old, I never dreamed that the small vending machine (自动售货机) I had owned would turn me into a small business owner. Wanting to inspire his daughter’s business sense, my dad brought home a vending machine he had purchased from a friend. Setting it down in front of me in our living room, he asked in all seriousness, “Do you want to start a business?” I said yes.

I owned 15 vending machines by the time I left high school, with all of the profits going toward my college fund. In addition to being a great bonding experience for my family, I couldn't tell you how many skills I learned from starting and developing my own business that helped me gain responsibility. I learned that not every experience in life led to the comforting encouragement: Well, you were tried. You should face bravely all kinds of difficulties.

Understanding both personal and professional finances is one of the most important life lessons to learn—the earlier, the better. I had to be fearless and confident—learning these skills at a young age saved me from speaking with difficulty through presentations later in life. Truly understanding what you're selling displays confidence and reliability, as does truly believing in it. Comprehending the ins and outs of your product and business shines through when speaking with clients though rejection happens all the time.

Throughout the unbelievable experience of running my own business in my childhood, I've learned valuable skills that help me in my school, job and personal life. I believe in the value of customer service. I go after clients and opportunities and understand that sometimes things don't go my way. With the help of my parents and customers who supported me, I grew up as a young entrepreneur with skills to keep for the rest of my life.

5 . One of my earliest memories started with me sobbing. Mum took out an old sheet of wrapping paper and began to fold it. Soon, a paper tiger stood on the table. “Tiger!” said mom. I was fascinated by Tiger and stopped crying.

Mum started to make paper toys and would leave them on the breakfast table for me.

One day, when I was playing with Tiger, my neighbor, a boy around my age asked, “What’s this?” “It’s a paper tiger. My mum made it!” I replied proudly. “Your mum makes you toys from rubbish?” he cried in disbelief. I had never thought of Tiger as that. Looking at it now, I found Tiger’s body patched (修补) all over with tape. I hid Tiger in my pocket sheepishly.

The next day at school, the other children whispered as they stared at me. “Do you really play with rubbish? Don’t you have any normal toys?” Someone shouted. The children roared with laughter. I tried to slip away but fell to the ground.

When I got home, I put Tiger and all the paper animals into a big box and hid it in the attic (阁楼). When I saw Mum’s new creation, a paper giraffe, I knocked it into the bin. I shouted at her, “I’m not a baby anymore!” From that day on, Mum’s creations stopped appearing on the breakfast table.

Years later, while preparing for our class graduation photoshoot, someone suggested posing with a treasured childhood item. I then searched the attic for one and saw the box of old paper toys. I opened it with care. As I held Tiger, I recalled our adventures and how I had put it aside so carelessly. A pang of guilt crowded in on me.

When I received my graduation photo, I placed it on Mum’s dressing table with a note, “I’m sorry I threw the paper giraffe away and thanks for everything!” Later that day, I saw the photo in our family’s display cabinet. Next to the photo was a new addition —   a paper giraffe.

6 . Mei Ling hurried to Uncle Ahmad’s house that evening. She could not wait to try the delicious nasi lemak (椰浆饭) and curry (咖哩) chicken that he had specially prepared for the occasion. He was celebrating his sixtieth birthday and everyone in the village was invited for this biggest party of the year.

That party was special as Uncle Ahmad had promised to give everyone a surprise. He said he had bought a magic box that could show pictures of people and that the people could talk. No one in the village had ever heard of anything like that.

Even as Mei Ling was walking towards Uncle Ahmad’s house, the smell of nasi lemak and curry chicken filled the air. The children knew that they would be having a great feast that night. When all the guests arrived, Uncle Ahmad presented his magic box. It sat on a four-spindly-leg table at the front of his big room. On the front of the black box was a glass screen and four little buttons.

Everyone pushed forward to get a closer look at it. Mei Ling and her friends peered into the screen but they could not see anything. They tapped the glass to make sure it was not a trick.

“Don’t touch the magic box!” said Uncle Ahmad He stepped in front of it and signaled to them to move back. He did not want anything to happen to it. He told them to sit down on the mats (垫子). Then he pushed one of the buttons and the glass screen lit up.

Suddenly, the face of a man appeared on the screen and he started speaking. What kind of man was his? He was so small! The guests’ eyes lit up. Everyone broke into chatter.

The children looked behind the box but there was no one there. Could someone be inside the box? They wondered. They could not work it out.

Uncle Ahmad waved his hands again and everyone became quiet. People sat eating dinner, staring at the characters on the screen.

It was the very first time that the villagers had watched television.

7 . Once upon a time, there was a kind wizard (魔法师) who loved to use magic to give people pleasure. He was always invited to parties as many people loved to have him around to perform tricks. However, they had to take special care in the preparation of his food as the wizard was allergic (过敏的) to many different kinds of food.

As time went by, people became tired of having to prepare special food for him. They forgot about his dietary requirements. Thus, the wizard always ended up with allergic reactions like a black tongue, green face or itchy (发痒的) skin.

Angry at such a lack of consideration, the wizard decided to teach everyone a lesson. He waved his wand (a special thin stick) and gave everyone an allergy. Some became allergic to animals, meat or fruit, while others were allergic to different weather conditions like rain or wind. Because of this, most of hem ended up having to go to the doctor for treatment after every party.

Ending parties in this way was such a pain that, slowly, people began making an effort to learn what each other’s allergies were. Now hey would prepare everything carefully, so that they could have a good time together without getting sick.

The People had learned how to be thoughtful towards others. They also learned how they could enjoy each others’ company better.