I remember when I was young，people often asked me，“What are you going to be when you grow up？”. Well，it ______ being a cowboy or some superhero.Later it was a fireman, a policeman, a lawyer.As I grew older, my dreams for the future ______.When, at last, I was in college, I set my ____ on becoming a teacher like my father.______ I studied and prepared for that.I reached the______ in the end and I was teaching ______ full­time for much of   my adult life.

However, for many people, there is a “thief” that goes around stealing our ______.Sometimes, the thief will come as a parent, a relative(亲戚), or a friend, but the ______ thief is usually ourselves.

We find _____ just about reaching the top, and a“small”   ______ inside says, “You’ll   never make ______.”   “You can’t possibly do this.” On and on the “small” voice predicts(预示) our ______.Failure, ______ is one of the most important tools we have may teach us valuable ______.When we learn these lessons well, we are ready ______ success.

I always tell my children that they are ______ to do anything that their heart desires.Remember the saying, “Nothing is ______ to a willing heart.” There are ______ “overnight” success, but with determination, they will come.Imagine ______ a life you dream of.Then in your heart, believe it will happen to you.Then work, work, work.You’ll get the picture.

So, be true to your dream, and don’t let anyone ______ it from   you—especially yourself.

I was quite young when I married. My wife shared with me my love for animals and she got several ________ pets, including one cat.

The black cat was beautiful. We named him Pluto. I liked him best so that I often fed him alone. Our friendship ________ for several years, during which, however, my wife and my job ________ me. Gradually, ________ became my new friend; I became quick to ________; I forgot how to smile and laugh.

One night I came home quite late from the inn. Walking with ________ steps, I made my way with effort into the house. As I entered, I saw Pluto was trying to stay out of my way to ________ me, which made me angry beyond ________. I lifted my foot and gave him a heavy kick ________. The cat burst into a tragic scream, like a ________ cutting through the peaceful dark sky.

It seemed a ring ________ me. I followed up the cry, calling “Pluto”. No response. Turn on the light, and I found him, curled up below a chair. I felt regretful and ________, attempting to comfort it. No response. I knew I had made an ________ mistake.

I made my efforts to ________ him in my manner, feeding him alone and eventually quit drinking. Maybe sometimes some evil things inside ourselves pushed us to do wrong, but we must bear in mind that we ought to treasure what is ________ us accompanying us in our lives.

I was working as a lifeguard at Tower 15 on Newport Beach and two blocks to my right was another guard named Mike, working at Tower 17. He called me over the phone and said, “Hey, I have _____two kids who are swimming in the dangerous zone. I have to give them a warning. Keep an eye on us.” I said “Sure.” In case of _____ , anytime we got out of our tower, we were supposed to _____somebody else.

Mike hung up the phone and____ the lifebuoy(救生圈). Then he realized that these two kids had been _____and that there was a great tendency for them to be _____by the wave.____, Mike rushed toward the ocean. I______ the water and all I found was two small heads. The mother of the two kids knelt down on the beach with ____.

When I dropped my binoculars (望远镜) and reached the mother, Mike was in waist-deep water, _____ the two kids. I turned to the mum and said, “Hey, it’s OK. They are safe.” I saw the terror started to _____. Then she glanced back and got her first good look at Mike. A new kind of _____washed over her face as though there was another threat to her kids’ lives. She snatched her kids without _____.

Mike had some seemingly _____behavior, and his shaved head showed a scar. Maybe he had no _____manners, but his lifesaving ability ______his unsatisfactory skills in PR (public relation). From the mother’s point of ______, Mike was a really terrible guy. However, that couldn’t change the fact that he had just ____her kids.

Mike just glanced at me and smiled. As I jogged back to my tower, I promised myself I’d never let my own ____prevent me from ____a hero when I meet one.