A young woman turns around and around quickly, and jumps high. In the background, a young girl reads a rejection letter from a ballet school. You have the wrong body for ballet, 'it says,' and at thirteen, you are too old. This was one of the most popular advertisements of 2014 and it describes American ballet Theatre's principal (主要的) dancer Misty Copeland.
This was not a real letter. But Copeland says it is very similar to letters from her childhood. While many dancers start at the age of three. Copeland only began to study ballet in 1995 as a thirteen-year-old. People often told her that she was too old, or that she didn't have the perfect body type (She is only 157 cm tall). Her family moved a lot, and it was sometimes difficult for her to attend ballet classes. But Copeland loved dancing and did not want to give up. She stayed with her ballet teacher during the week and spent time with her family only at the weekend. This was a difficult life, but she worked hard and won her first national competition when she was fourteen years old. Copeland joined the American Ballet Theatre in 2000 and performed in many ballets over the next few years. In 2007, she became a solo (单独的) performer, and in 2015 she became its principal dancer.
Copeland is now a dancer, author and Broadway performer. She also stars in the 2015 film A Ballerina's Tale. So what's next? According to Copeland, anything is possible: "My career (职业) really is just now beginning.'
"Volunteering makes you look at the world differently. You see how little things can change a person's life for the better, which makes everyone a better person." Mason, a volunteer said.
National Volunteer Week started in 1974 and is held every April. It is a time to thank volunteers for their achievements. It is also a perfect opportunity (机会) to encourage others to take their first step toward becoming a volunteer. Making the decision to take the first step can be the biggest problem, because they often wonder if they will be able to meet the organization's expectations (期望). Some people fear not knowing anyone else in the group. Not having enough time also prevents some from sharing their abilities.
The following tips can help if you have some of these worries.
★ Start out slowly, don't add too much pressure. Even a few hours a month can make a big difference in someone's life.
★ Choose an organization with the same interests and common values.
★ Take part in a training meeting for new volunteers, even if it is not asked.
★ Work with a veteran volunteer. He volunteered a lot, he can help you increase the confidence and completely understand the organization's expectations.
★ Invite a friend or family member to serve. It is a good experience to volunteer with them.
★ Finally, it is most important to enjoy the volunteer experience and to remember that not all volunteer experiences are perfect. If one experience doesn't work, don't give up and you'll surely find the right opportunity.
Spend some time on volunteer work and you will see great changes in people's lives. As Mason discovered during his volunteer experience, "…little things can change a person's life."
I have never been away from home, at least not for more than three days, much less two whole weeks. When I got the chance to go to Journalism Camp, I was afraid. Of the 19 other students there, I knew no one.
What if I had to go home during camp time because I wouldn't be able to get used to the new situation? What if my roommate and I don't get along? How do I even use a washing machine?
Well, after the first night, nearly all of my problems were solved. The students were amazing, and my roommate was perfect. She knew how to do crazy braids(辫子) with my long hair and she loved to listen to me talk loudly! I couldn't have asked for more.
The two weeks nearly flew by, and I learned to take responsibility for myself: washing clothes, cleaning and other things like that.
However, in the process I didn't realize how tied I had become to the usual order of waking up early, running to get to the newsroom in time, and coming back to a large room full of friends who shared similar feelings as I did.
On the last day, I couldn't get myself to turn in my room keys. It couldn't be over. I become emotionally tied really easily, so it was hard for me to pull away. I couldn't push away my tears. Leaving camp Just left me empty.
I wasn't having the "blues", but I felt really sad about leaving. Returning home, I was in the state of disappointment for a few days. I kept to myself, sleeping through most of the day so I wouldn't have time to look back.
I needed to get used to life at home again. This was my challenge. I was lucky to have the two-week experience, but I had to learn to accept that not all things last forever.
I could still keep in touch with my new friends while continuing on with the rest of my summer. I know I will go through the same experience when I leave high school after senior year. High school life will never return after graduation, but I can still keep in touch with my friends and look forward to other experiences I will have.
This year 2, 300 teenagers from all over the world will spend about ten months in U.S. homes. They will attend U.S. schools, meet U.S. teenagers, and form impressions (印象) of America. They will learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George's family. In return, George's son, Mike, spent a year in Fred's home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months' study, the language began to come to him. . Students rose respectfully (尊敬地) when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
. The family's word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than one of the members. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
"Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it."
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. "I suppose I should criticize(批评)American schools." He said. "It is far too easy by our level. . In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two."
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A. Family life, too, was difficult. B. But I have to say that I like it very much. C. Here is a two-way student exchange in action. D. School was quite different from what he had expected—much harder. E. At the same time, about 1,300 American teenagers will go to other countries. |
Team spirit means the willingness of people to work together and help each other as part of a team. With this spirit, people try hard to make their team the best of all. Everyone has experienced team spirit one way or another, whether they were part of a team or saw a group of people cheer for their favourite player.
There are different kinds of team spirit. One kind is the connection between a team of people because their efforts and cooperation(合作) are necessary in reaching a particular goal. Another kind is when a group of people support a person or a team. Another is people's natural love for and pride in their country, when a whole nation cheer for its country in competitions. Team spirit can also be seen in the workplace or in some activities.
Team spirit creates various good effects. It creates friendship and trust between people who may not get along when they don't have such team spirit. There may also be bad effects. Too great team spirit may cause arguments or fights with other team members.
Some people don't understand team spirit properly. They think team spirit means having to become an official member of an organization, team or fan club. In fact, team spirit can be built anywhere—between friends, coworkers or even between two people sitting next to each other. You don't have to be wearing the team spirit clothes. Anyone can show team spirit just by showing support for the goal.
A famous study was done in a school by a professor from a university. At the start of the school year, the teachers were given the names of five children. They (tell) that these five were the most excellent students in the class. But the fact was that these students were only average，and they were not the best students at all. Well, guess what? At the end of the year, all the five average students scored among the highest in the class.
What made these average students (change) so much to become top students？The only difference was the change in their teachers' attitude. Because the teachers believed that these five kids were the top students，they expected more from them. And so these five average students began to believe and expect more from themselves. So they worked harder to do as well as they could.
Do you know why? If you expect the best from people, usually they (show) you their best. A great leader said, "Treat a person just how he (appear) to be on the outside, and you'll make him even worse. But treat a person like he's already a success, and you'll help make him the best he can be."
Like the true story of 7-year-old Johnny, his teacher got so angry with him that one day she said," Johnny, you're the laziest boy in this class. You are only interested in (play) games. I'm sure you'll never change." The next year Johnny had a new teacher. And on the first day of class，she met with Johnny after school and said," Johnny, I(hear) a lot about you! But do you know that I (not believe) a word of it." And every day after that, this new teacher (treat) Johnny as if he was one of the smartest students even when Johnny did naughty things. Later on, Johnny became a school leader. Because that's the power of our belief and attitude toward children.
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A. treatment B. better C. spoke up D. next to E. expensive F. replied G. discovered H. too much I. talking about J. making conversation |
One cold, rainy evening last October, I was going to interview an old lady in the hospital to gather information for my medical thesis(论文).
The old lady was lying on bed 4B. I sat down on a chair her bed, and in a low voice I introduced myself and asked how she was doing. She softly replied that she was getting . When I told her that I wanted to gather some information from her, she agreed.
After I finished the questions, I prepared to leave so I could get more medical records. Before I could get up, the old lady in her weak voice," I haven't seen you before, Doctor. Are you new?"
"Not really, ma'am. It's just that I don't come here every day," I replied. She started , asking where I was from and why I was working so late in the evening. I was surprised someone in her condition would want to talk.
"Doctor, do you think I can get back to my normal life?'' the old lady asked at one point.
I that while I didn't know much about her case, I could tell her what I had learnt about the recovery of the patients of her kind. However, I was unwilling to go into detail (细节) as I was only a medical student.
The old lady started herself. She shared her difficulties and sufferings, talked about her husband, who was killed in a car accident, and her struggle to earn money. All I did was to nod my head as a way of showing my sympathy(同情).
A few days later, I that the old lady had been allowed to go out of the hospital as her condition had improved, though she would still need .
The old lady taught me one of the most important lessons a doctor can learn. Sometimes patients do not need treatment. They just need someone with the patience and willingness to lend an ear to them and spend some time to be with them.
