Ever since I was young, my parents and older brother have always cheered me on―whether it was at a dance competition, piano recital(独奏会), or an academic _________. They were there even when I _________ 1 of 10 sports, only to later realize I just wasn’t that _________. Point is―they never _________ to tell me I couldn’t do something or to quit. They _________ me every step of the way. They went the extra mile to be the parent that was the _________ soccer coach. They sometimes would _________ their busy schedules for my passions and growth.

My family became a(n) _________ value through these childhood moments, and are also _________ to every other value I hold important―whether it’s learning persistence(坚持) or __________ for others. They have instilled(灌输) in me this sense of __________ from a young age, and continue to help me __________ it. At every major __________ point in my life whether it’s choosing a college or a full-time job, I __________ them for their advice, and consider how to __________ this value while being away. In 5 years, I know family will be of equal importance to me and will always struggle to make it known to them that they are my greatest value.

Mom said the unforgettable words, "I have cancer," and held me in a tight hug. I could feel her chest shaking as she tried not to cry but __ .

But Mom didn't stay down for long. After the __ of the breast cancer diagnosis, she ___herself with a purple notebook and pen and a thousand questions for the doctors. She took __ on white blood cell counts and medications with long names as though she were studying for entrance exams into medical school, "The not knowing is the __ ," she smiled.

“Cancer can take my hair, my nails, my __ . even my very life. But it can't take my __ ," Mom said. Mom learned to __ her fears with me, and it formed an even ___ bond between us. Yet I am certain there were fears she didn't share because she was still __ me --and worries she only shared with Dad, or maybe even __ to give voice to. My mom, who never played sports, was a fighter ____ to defeat breast cancer. Defeat it, and even joked about it. When you look your greatest fear in the eye and laugh at it, you __ some of its power.

Mom was the most __ patient the cancer center ever had. She made homemade noodles for the medical staff. She chose to be grateful to the hands that tried to __ her, instead of angry when extreme __ kept her from the job and social life she loved.

Mom was one of the __ ones. She did beat her cancer, though not without scars. But I saw a change in Mom. __ afterward seemed to worry her quite as much. She was more patient and __ . Cancer was her fire, and it refined her. From her, I learned I may not get to choose what I ___, but I do get to choose how I face it.

When I was young, I was a terrible student. I didn't________talking with my grandmother on the phone,________she would ask me about school and about what I was reading. Her inability to know what was________to me was never more evident (明显的) than at gift-giving time.

Each Christmas, I would get a package from Grandmother. "Another________Just like every year!" I would think and then put it aside. I would_______all my latest toys on Christmas morning and for days and even weeks after.________, I would open Grandmother's gift. I would read the book and sometimes_____the text, but I didn't count this as having fun.

Although I was not interested in________, I had great patience with younger children. Seeing how I________her kid with homework, my neighbor________that I should become a teacher when I grew up. At first, the idea seemed________to me. Slowly the idea took root and I decided to give________a try.

During my second term in college, I________in my Children's Literature class. Our teacher______a list of classic children's books. It was then that I wanted to________.I raced home and ran to the basement (地下室). There on the dusty shelf sat the most amazing collection of children's books any teacher could________to have. My grandmother didn't________me what my little girl mind wanted, but what she knew I________— a gift for the soul that would last a lifetime.

I________to water the seed my grandmother planted so long ago. I graduated from college, received my master's degree and became a________, trying my best to plant those tiny seeds in all my students.