“You’re fired!” Andrew Chilton wasn’t joking. At that moment, the high school _________ wanted his personal care attendant, Christy Chachere, out of his life forever.

When Andrew was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome(综合征), Andrew’s family did their best to _________ him from life’s hardships. Doctors _________ that Andrew might not even finish high school.

Christy saw the _________ right away. “Andrew wouldn’t take a step without his mother’s permission,” she remembers. “You have to let him _________,” she told the family. “It’s the only way he’s going to learn.” No longer would his mother write Andrew’s papers for him. His younger brother wouldn’t help him _________ the computer. Christy wouldn’t be helping him with homework either. It was a little _________ to step back. But everyone was _________.

He complained _________ at times. But then things began to change. Andrew would come home from __________, get a snack and start on his homework. He saw that Christy __________ was there for him. She wouldn’t do his papers for him. But she showed him how to get organized. And she coached him on how to __________ frustration and difficulties.

Once bis work was done, Christy offered __________. She’d take him to the bookstore or to a store where he could buy Pokemon cards. To the movies. Or out to eat __________ food, sushi. One step at a time, Andrew gained __________. He graduated from high school and entered university. And he stopped trying to fire Christy.

It was already 11:00 p.m., Christmas Eve of 2009. Herman and I locked our store and went home. We were not ________ because some child’s gift was still on the layaway (预约购货) shelf. The person who had put a dollar down on the package never ________.

Early Christmas morning we and our twelve-year-old son, Tom, opened gifts. But there was something dull about this Christmas. Tom was growing up; I ________ his childish eagerness of past years. And then a strange ________ suddenly appeared inside. It seemed to be telling me to go to the store. Looking at the icy sidewalk outside, I said to myself,“That’s ________!” But it wouldn’t leave me alone. ________ it was getting stronger. Finally, unable to stand it, I got dressed and ________ my way to the store.

In front stood two boys with no hats or gloves. The younger one’s face was wet with ________, but seeing me, he stopped crying. I immediately ________ them into the store.“My little brother Jimmy wants ________ We have these three dollars.” I looked at the money and then their ________ faces. “I’m sorry,” I said,“but we have no...” Then the remaining package caught my eye. I ________ it and there was a pair of skates! What a miracle (奇迹)! And miracle added upon miracle, they were his ________. They fit well.

The older boy ________ the dollars to me. I refused and said the skates were a Christmas gift for Jimmy. Their smiles stretched wide. What I saw in Jimmy’s eyes was pure joy, which was beautiful. My ________ rose.

One year after Tom was born, his parents had a car accident. They never __. Tom's 85-year-old grandmother was too __ to take care of him. As a result he was put up for adoption (领养).He was adopted by a middle-aged couple who had no __ of their own. They were not rich and received little education, but they were __ people.

As Tom was growing up: he __ a lot of problems at school. He didn't learn __ and had trouble in reading. His __ sometimes laughed at him. What they said made Tom __.

After many years of learning at home, he __ overcame (克服）his difficulties. Today he is a very __ speaker and author. While he was growing up_: his self-esteem and __ were low because of others' making fun of him. It took him many __ to realize his dreams.

When listening to his videos and tapes, he shows confidence. He tells about his __ and how he overcame the challenges in his life. He has a very __       sentence: “You cannot expect to achieve new goals or move beyond your present situations __ you change.”

For those who have low self-confidence, I suggest you __ reading about Tom's world. Many people have so much potential（潜能）       to be discovered. If you have a dream, then start today to __ yourself towards it. If someone like Tom who has __ in learning can make such achievements, why can't you succeed?