2 . I am honored to work in the greatest profession (行业). Despite the long hours and hard work, I finish each day, feeling as though I have made a difference. This is the drive that keeps teachers energetic and passionate (热情的). As Christa McAuliffe said, “I touch the future, I teach.”

When I was named Maryland Teacher of the Year, I received a congratulatory e-mail from a former (以前的) student, Morgan, who is currently attending Georgetown University and is an officer of the student-run Women in Politics group. I recently turned on the television to watch a college basketball game to find another former student, Austin, running up and down the court for Georgetown. Walking through a shopping mall recently, I encountered (邂逅) a former student, Olade, dressed in a suit. After a brief greeting, he handed me a business card for the company that he just had started, at age twenty-two. Another student said he is in the process of applying for law school at Howard University. Believe it or not, I encounter former students with similar success stories nearly every week. One student, Tasha, is off to the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore next year to study, of all things, Social Studies/Education. Now that’s a student after my own heart!

Seeing the success of former students and knowing that I was able to make a small contribution to their success during the time that they sat in my class, is the greatest reward. Sometimes, while I am watching my current students working and interacting (互动) in class, I try to picture what they will be doing ten years from now. I wonder if I am looking at a future senator (议员) or judge. Can you imagine being able to say, “I taught Senator Thomas government in the tent h grade?” I would not trade my career for any other. I literally (真正地) touch the future each and every day.

3 . When Marco was a boy, he tried everything to get his father’s love and attention. He studied hard to get good _______ and tried to behave well. He was shy and shorter than the other boys. Besides, his father was _______ and had little time for him. Except for his _______ for housework after school, there was no communication. Marco felt very _______.

One day, his maths teacher called him that some young teenagers were _______ a public speaking contest. She thought he should give it a _______. She firmly believed he could perform on stage (舞台) like other kids. Feeling her strong trust, Marco agreed to _______ the contest.

All winter, he took a bus to _______ twice a week in another city, where the competition would take place. Marco was taken by a strong _______ he never felt before. Finally, the big day arrived. His father, and yes, his maths teacher, were present. When he stepped onto the stage and began to speak, he felt ________ at home. He was funny, and acted very natural. He won! He noticed his father’s eyes were ________— he was so proud. It was then that his father ________ he should pay more attention to the child.

As the winner, his name was ________ in the local papers. He knew this was the ________ of his new life. It all happened because of a phone call, from one who ________ him.

6 . When I tried out for the football team during the summer before 9th grade, I never imagined how important this sport would become in my life. Football is a _____ sport, at times almost painful, and practices really _____ a team’s physical and mental limits. Without trust in my own ability and a strong sense of commitment, I would never have managed to continue after years of hard work as a player, and with countless _____.

In the first year, I played on the defensive line. This was an amazing _____ that gave me a great sense of achievement. But in the last game of the season, I was seriously injured. I was prohibited from any physical activities for six months. After going _____ a series of physical treatments, I returned to the field as a team captain. I practiced harder than ever to make up for my _____ time.

In September, during my junior year, my name was mentioned in the local newspaper as the key defensive lineman on the team. After playing a fantastic season, I was given the _____ of the Most Valuable Player.

_____, my skills in football do not magically extend to other sports. During the winter break, I went on a snowboarding trip and seriously injured my right shoulder. I had to have four _____. Since I could not use my right arm for two months, I had to learn how to write and eat using my left hand.

______ life must go on. I knew that my own present efforts would decide my future, so I ______ the strict training program to build up strength and improve flexibility in my ______. After an eight-month recovery, I was back to the field playing football, the sport I ______.

In this sense, the world of football has taught me an important life lesson: ______ and commitment make what seems impossible ______. This lesson from football is the one that can be applied to every part of life.

8 . I didn’t know how to say no, and was afraid to tell people what I wanted. Instead, I got myself tangled (纠结的) in a web of obligations (义务), anxiety, and white lies.

The worst thing was that I didn’t even realize what I was doing. I thought I knew how to say “no”, but couldn’t remember the last time I had. Like a lot of people, I just wanted to be accepted, appreciated, loved, and that the only way to get those things was to put everyone else’s needs before my own.

I never seemed to have time for things I really wanted to do. I’d like to learn Spanish, write more fiction, and travel. These aren’t huge goals. And yet, my people-pleasing ways cut into my free time to stop these desires.

But recently, I decided I’d had enough. As an experiment, I began standing up for myself, even at the risk of alienating (使疏远) myself from everyone and having my entire life come crashing down around me. Several days ago, a good friend asked me to go for coffee at 5 pm. I was planning to go to the gym. So I said, “Sorry, I’ve got things I want to do tonight.” She said sincerely, “That’s fine. Maybe another time.” It was all so simple that I got surprised.

Saying “no” is so much easier. If someone asks me to do something I have zero interest in, I’m polite but honest. “I’m sorry. I don’t think that’s really for me.” The words slip out of my mouth faster than some other excuses.

Learning how to say “no” has added several extra hours to my days, days to my weeks, and to my years. I no longer have to give up my plans to help friends with their matters, or set aside a weekend for others. Saying “no” has set me free.

Sports Day was getting close in the school. All the children were very excited and were practicing for the big race. John, one of the fast runners of the school, was confident that he would win for he was not doing anything at all. “You have to work hard to come first in the race John. You are not practicing at all,” said John’s mother.

“Mom, you know how fast I am! Why should I waste my time running? Only I will win; no one else will win!”said John. “John, you may be right but talent (天赋) without hard work is not good at all. This laziness of yours will cost you greatly,” his mother warned him. John just laughed. He was so confident that he would win the trophy (奖杯) as no one else in his class was as fast as he was!.

Tim, a classmate of John, was also participating (参加) in the running race. He was not a fast runner. However, he practiced till late at night and had developed great endurance (持久力) to run the race.

There were a few days left for the Sports Day but John did not practice at all. On the other hand, Tim practiced day and night.

The Sports Day was almost around the corner but John was confident that no one could beat him and had not practiced at all. But Tim with his hard work had become a very great runner.

At last, the Sports Day arrived. All the students showed up on the ground to cheer their favorites. The coach blew the whistle (口哨) and everyone began to run toward the finishing line. It was so exciting. John and Tim left all the racers far behind. Both of them were neck to neck.

Suddenly, John went ahead of Tim.

John’s mother came up to Tim and praised him for his hard work.

10 . It was a cold winter day that Sunday. The parking lot to the ______ was filling up quickly. I noticed, as I got out of my car, fellow church members were ______ among themselves as they walked in the church. As I got ______, I saw a man leaning up against the wall outside the church. He was almost lying down as if he was asleep. His hat was ______ down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too ______ for his feet, with holes all over them and his toes ______ out. I guessed this man was ______ and asleep, so I walked on cross through the doors of the church. We all talked for a few minutes, and someone ______ the man lying outside. People whispered but no one took ______ to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began. We were all waiting for the Preacher (牧师) to take his time and to give us the Word, ______ the doors to the church opened. In ______ the man walking down the church with his head down. People gasped (喘息) and whispered and made ______. He made his way down the church and up onto the pulpit (讲坛) where he took off his hat and coat. My heart ______.

There stood our preache… he was the “homeless man”. The preacher took his Bible (圣经) and ______ it on his stand.

“Folks, I don’t think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today. If you ______ people by their appearance, you have no time to love them.”