My great-grandmother, Fatma, grew up in a small village in eastern Turkey in the 1950s. Life was very different back then. There was no electricity, so people used to light oil lamps when it got dark. They used to wake up at sunrise and go to bed shortly after sunset.

Fatma used to walk two kilometres to school every morning, even in winter. While she was walking to school one snowy morning, she fell into a ditch and hurt her ankle. Despite the pain, she continued walking because education was very important to her family.

In the evenings, the whole family used to gather around the fireplace. The elders used to tell stories about the old days while the children were listening carefully. Fatma often says those were hard times, but the sense of community made everything easier.

It was a cold December night in 1999. Twelve-year-old Emre was sitting at the kitchen table, trying to finish his homework. His mother was cooking soup on the old wood-burning stove. Suddenly, the wind started blowing harder and the last candle in the house went out. Everything went dark.

“Don’t worry,” his mother said calmly. “We still have the fire in the stove.” Emre moved closer to the stove and tried to read by the dim light of the flames. As he was struggling to see the words, he heard a knock on the door. It was their neighbour, Mr. Hasan, holding a box of candles and a warm smile.

“I thought you might need these,” Mr. Hasan said. Emre’s mother thanked him and invited him in for soup. That night, the three of them sat together, sharing stories and laughter by candlelight. Emre never forgot that evening — the night he learned that kindness can light up even the darkest moments.

[1] Many students face different challenges during their school years, but one of the most common fears is public speaking. Learning to overcome this fear can change a person’s life in a positive way.

[2] First of all, fear of public speaking often starts in childhood. For example, when a child is asked to read aloud in class and the other students laugh, this experience can create a lasting fear. As a result, many teenagers avoid speaking in front of groups.

[3] However, there are effective ways to deal with this challenge. Practising in front of a mirror or recording yourself can help build confidence. Additionally, joining a school debate club gives students regular practice in a supportive environment.

[4] In conclusion, although public speaking can be frightening, it is a skill that anyone can develop with practice and patience. The key is to start small and never give up.

It was a stormy autumn evening. Aylin and her brother Kaan were at their grandparents’ house in the countryside. Their grandmother used to tell them scary stories on nights like this, but tonight was different.

While Aylin [… 1 …], the lights suddenly went out. Kaan was frightened, but Aylin stayed calm. She said, “[… 2 …]”

They carefully walked to the kitchen. While they were looking for candles, they heard a strange noise coming from [… 3 …]. Their grandfather smiled and said it was just the wind. When the power came back on an hour later, they all laughed about how scared they had been.

Aylin used to be afraid of storms when she was little, but after that night, she felt [… 4 …].