Every year I read over 2,000 college applications from students all over the world. It is quite _________ to choose whom to admit. _________. in the chaos of SAT scores and recommendations, one _________ is always irresistible (无法抗拒的) in a candidate: kindness.

The most surprising indication of kindness I’ve ever _________ came from a student who had excellent scores and a supportive _________ from his college consultant. Even with these qualifications, he might not have _________. But one letter of recommendation caught my eye. It was from a school security _________. Letters of recommendation are typically written by people like former presidents, celebrities, and Olympic athletes.

The security guard wrote that he supported this student’s admission because of his _________. This young man was the only person in the school who knew the names of every member of the guard staff. He turned off lights in empty rooms, consistently _________ the hallway monitor (监测员) each morning and tidied up the classroom after his peers left school __________ nobody was watching. This student, the security guard wrote, had a(n) __________ respect for every person at the school, regardless of position, popularity or power.

It gave us a __________ onto a student’s life in the moments when nothing “counted”. That student was admitted by unanimous (一致的) vote of the admissions committee.

Next year there might be a flood of security guard recommendations __________ this essay. But if it means students will start paying as much __________ to the people who clean their classrooms as they do to their headmasters and teachers, I’m happy to help start that __________.

As a psychologist, one of my favorite practices came about during my meeting a teenager, Trevor. He had been struggling with anxiety and depression, finding few solutions _________ to him.

Trevor _________ his ability after failing the final exam and wanted to give up. Together with his dad, he _________ me for help, and we discussed something about his treatment _________. I told him that I _________ he would get better as long as he believed in himself. He looked puzzled. “I don’t think it will work,” he said. Then, a new idea struck me-maybe I could help him by associating his experience with the perception of steady improvement. So I enlightened (启发) him _________.

“When you break a bone,” I asked, “what is the _________ of a cast (石膏)?” “it protects the bone,” he answered. “Yes, but how _________ does the bone heal (治愈)?” “The body heals it,” Trevor answered, “Right,” I nodded. “Now, I’ll act as your cast and _________ you until your mind heals itself.” Trevor gave me a smile. Obviously, our __________ gave Trevor a belief that he should trust in his inner power and it reassured him that he wasn’t __________. He knew his doctor, parents, and teachers would all work in __________ to help him. Sure enough, he __________ his classmates later.

If children are in crisis, parents can try to make them __________ their problems. Parents need to encourage and support them. In this case, children will feel encouraged and __________ eventually.