主题：请教很白的英语问题 -- 稀疏

一篇文章的翻译

标题

(after Randal Williams)

这里after是作'关于'讲还是有别的说法？

I went through four years of high school in Alabama,and became active in clubs and sports.

是我在俱乐部和体育活动方面变得“活跃”还是“更活跃”、“很活跃”？

I made a lot of friends and became a regular boy.

成为了一个“标准男孩”、“普通男孩”？请讲解一下。

......we never made much progress up the social ladder.That was how it was in those days in United States.

最后一句请仔细讲一下，没太明白近句的结构，how是作什么讲？

前一句是种固定句式吗？

比如说：我的英语正在取得长足的进步。

是否可以说:I am making much progress up the English。?

英语小白，河里随便来位给俺讲讲吧。

谢^-^