When 9-year-old Alice asked me, “Mom, do I have to brush my hair today?” I didn’t know how to answer. On the one hand, it’s good to have pride in our ________. And hair-brushing does not take a lot of effort. ________ on the other hand, I was happy that my daughter paid little attention to the way her hair looked, how she ________, or what people thought about her. In Alice’s world, brushing her hair was ________ and she would just do it as ________ as possible. I knew back then that those feelings would not last a long time.

Five years later, at age 14, Alice ________ her physical appearance. Hair has to be brushed, makeup used and clothes changed many times before we can even think about leaving the house. My confident teen worries about whether her nail (指甲) color ________ her shirt or if she looks “stupid” in the very same clothes she says she loved the day before. With shame, it ________ my mind that I somehow raised a looks-obsessed child, focusing on things that are _________

We have talked about in detail how looks don’t mater and that being a good, kind , ________ person in this world is way more important than looking good. Each time we have this ________, Alice tells me that she knows that technically looks aren’t important. But when she looks good on the outside she feels more confident on the inside. ________, that makes her a kinder, more caring and more understanding person. I certainly can’t argue with such ________ teenage thinking!

And just as she learned over the years that often brushing hair is probably a good idea, ________ she will learn that sometimes it’s okay to go out in a less-than-perfect coat or without ________. Somewhere deep down, her freewheeling (随心所欲的) 9-year-old self still knows that.

“Wow, Mubeen is your brother? He is such a wonderful kid!” My new teacher went on and on about how _______ Mubeen was. I am proud of my brother, but I was _______ of people expecting me to be as perfect as he is.

There are things that are _______ about us. He is better at study; I am more creative and social. We also have a lot _______: we’ve both hardworking and want to have a successful future. We get along well and he often _______ me when I am in trouble.

But all the _______ got to me. I was angry. I wanted to be known as Shameera, not as Mubeen’s _________, or worse a female copy of him.

This year, Mubeen was _______ to Cornell University. That was a big _______ for our school, for he was the first student to get into Ivy League university. I said to my brother, “Everyone is ________ me. But that really makes me ________ because even when you leave, your ________ will live on in this school. I’m afraid you’re going to haunt（困扰）me.” Mubeen laughed and said, “Don’t ________. I won’t haunt you. And I’m ________ that you’re going to be the second to go to an Ivy League university.”

Recently, I spoke to my history teacher about how I didn’t like being ________ my brother. She said, “To be ________, I think you’re smarter than he is. You ________ more in activities and you’re more understanding.” ________ I remember these words, they make me happy.

This school year is my first year of school without my brother. I finally have the chance to establish my own ________. Although the comparisons continue, they’ve decreased. I feel less stressed and I am more________ as myself now.