“Never give up! Never give up!” chanted (反复唱) my two young kids, Max and Charley, as they _________     barefoot behind their grandmother Mimi. Mimi was leading them on yet another _________, straight off the beach where they had played before. This time, they were _________ the ice-cream truck.

Over the years, Mom taught me just how much one could achieve with a _________ attitude. She has taken the same _________ in her relationship with her grandchildren. Max and Charley were disappointed at missing the ice-cream man that day. That was until Mimi’s eyes _________ and she said, “Never give up!”. She explained that the truck might be gone, but they could hurry to find it at its next _________.

They walked block after block. Not knowing which direction the truck had taken, they had to make a(an)_________ guess about where to search. My kids’ tiny legs were tired, but they moved on, continuing to chant, “Never give up!”.

After about twenty minutes of walking, Max began to _________ his faith in the mission. He wondered out loud, “Maybe we should give up. We have been walking pretty far and haven’t seen the truck yet.” Charley yelled, “No __________ ! Never give up!” and continued her chant with Mimi. Somewhat doubtful Max __________ without protest.

Just two blocks later, they found it. Mimi threw a triumphant(展示胜利的) fist in the air, and Max and Chariey screamed with __________, “Never give up!” At that moment, my mom had done for my children what she had done for me countless times. __________ though it was, that phrase has become our battle cry for the challenges we face. Whatever setbacks they __________, I know I can always look at Max and Charley and say, ^“Never give up!” Upon hearing those words, they are instantly __________ to a positive state of mind—where the next ice-cream truck is just around the corner.

Haze Mabry has just turned 80 years old, and on his birthday, just like every other day, he reported to Pike County Elementary in Georgia where he works as a cleaner, prepared to clean.

But to his _______, that day was different from any other day. Just as he was settling in for a day of work, he was _______by more than 750 people, including students, teachers and staff,_______the hallways.

The students had made handmade _______and banners(横幅), and they all sang happy birthday and shouted his name as he _______by.

“They’re like my children ,” Mabry said in a(n) _______with The Washington Post .”I’m like the old lady in the shoe.”

Mabry makes a point of interacting(互动)with the _______when he can .”I know the little faces, but I don’t know every _______,”Mabry said .”Some of them make you know them.”

The unexpected celebration at school _______Mabry how valued(珍视) he is by students and teachers alike .”He’s the most __________person in this whole building ,”said teacher Lori Gilreath, who __________his surprise .”He won’t brag(吹嘘) on himself, but it doesn’t   __________what he’s doing or where he is, he will __________ stop what he’s doing to take care of a child if that child is having a __________ day.”

Haze spent the whole following weekend __________ the pile of handwritten cards he __________!

Maybe we can’t all organize something as __________ as this birthday celebration, but it’s a __________:take any chance you get to make someone’s day __________, and let them know how they are valued! It can make much __________.

A few months ago, one of my fellow graduate students was offered an incredible career-building opportunity. His efforts on a student-led campaign to increase federal funding for basic research had ________ an invitation to speak on a conference panel(专家组). It would look great on his CV(简历). I was happy for him, of course. I had been a(n) ________ partner in the campaign. I felt that I deserved the same opportunity. Yet I hadn’t been ________ and I wasn’t sure why.

Growing up, I had been taught that the way to ________ was to put my head down and work hard. If my work was good enough, it would speak for itself and I would be ________ . This view, coupled with a natural ________ , meant that I ________ worked up the nerve to put myself forward.

However, I decided that I need to ________ my life again—by becoming my own biggest advocate.

So, with my heart beating fast, I asked my colleague to ask the panel organizers to ________   me. My mind was filled with a list of well-practiced ________ . Maybe I didn’t deserve it. Maybe I was being too ambitious. But my colleague immediately contacted the organizers, who quickly agreed to ________ me to the panel. Now I’ve come to understand that I can’t be recognized for my word if I’m invisible. This isn’t a revolutionary idea which many people are unfamiliar with. I know, but as an introvert(内向的人)this is my ________ Mount Qomolangma.

I think advocating for myself will always make me a little ________ . But I do plenty of other uncomfortable things to ________ I’m living my best life, like getting flu shots. I suppose I can do the same for my ________ .