Last week my cousin asked me, “What do you want to have when you get rich?”

I thought about it, and answered, “I want to have a library in my own house.” My cousin laughed, “You are a crazy girl. There are so many people who won’t even let you study, yet you are thinking about having your own library.”

His words reminded me of a day when I was in second grade. I was walking to school carrying my books when a man came up to me and grabbed my books. He tore them into pieces and left.

Afraid, I ran toward school, crying. I was still crying in the corner of the classroom until my teacher Mrs. Smith came over and asked me why. I told her what had happened. Mrs. Smith kissed me on my cheeks and asked me if I understood why the man tore up my books. She said, “Because they are frightened of you and that someday you will recognize who they are and what is right and what is not. Your books are weapons(武器) that you can use to get an education and become more powerful. The more you use them, the more you will be able to defend yourself and prove them wrong.”

Now I am older and I know that people like that man are the opposite of a literate (有文化的) woman. Our education is our power over them. And I will keep dreaming of a library at home.

To pick up books and draw the power of knowledge from them can fight against fear and inequality in life, and can give us the courage to hold on to our dreams.

"Mom. I can't wait to own a fast Porsche(保时捷)," said sixteen-year-old Steve. as he drove our old family car home after he passed his driving test. "A Porsche is expensive." I replied. "You will have to work hard to earn one."

Over the next several years Steve tried his best to realize the goal. After high school he won a scholarship(奖学金)to study at a famous university and graduated with honors. Later he earned an MBA degree and got a job in a large company. Then he got married.

One day in 2011 his dad and I visited them on invitation. After a round of hugs. Steve asked me to stand in front of the garage. He opened the door.

"What a beautiful car!" I said in amazement. Steve smiled with tears of happiness in his eyes." Mom, remember I once said I wanted to own a fast Porsche? Let me take you for a ride and show you what this car can do. I'll take Dad later." We climbed into the sports car, and then he started the car. We sped up along a wide road, shot up a long bridge and performed a fast turn before we headed for home.

"Wow! That was an exciting ride!" I said as I climbed out of the comfortable seat. "This car is better than all my expectations." Steve said in happiness.

Months later, during another visit. I was admiring his perfect Porsche in the garage when he said that he had decided to sell it I was unprepared for it! He explained that he had discovered that wanting a Porsche was more fun than having one.

Mother Teresa was born in Yugoslavia, on August 27, 1910. She attended the government school near her home until she was eighteen. At that time, some doctors and nurses from Yugoslavia were working in India, and they often wrote to the school about their work. She decided to join them one day.

When she left school, she went first to Britain. Then a year later she went to India, where she began to train to be a teacher. After training, she was sent to Calcutta, where she taught geography at a school and soon after became headmistress.

However, although she loved teaching, in 1946 Mother Teresa left the school and went to work in the poor parts of Calcutta. Later she trained to become a nurse in Patna, and then began her work helping the poor and comforting the dying in the streets of the city. Slowly, others came to help her, and her work spread to other parts of India.

Mother Teresa is now a well-known person. Many photos have been taken of her, as she travels the world to open new schools and hospitals in poor countries. In 1979,she was given the Nobel Peace Prize for the lifetime of love and service she has given to the poor.