Just days before Jessica Joy Rees lost her heartbreaking battle with brain tumors（瘤）, her parents wrote on their blog about how they were excited for a great 2012.

They were confident that the 12-year-old girl would reach her goal of making 50,000 of her “Joy Jars” which were filled with candy and toys for sick children. They were exploring other medical treatments in Europe. They continued to pray and encouraged others to do the same. Unfortunately, their prayers were answered differently than they hoped.

“We have prayed and prayed and prayed for sweet Jessie to be treated here on earth but God’s plan was to use heaven for her treatment,” they wrote on Facebook when Jessie died on Thursday, after a 10-month battle with brain cancer.

Jessica began her blog and Facebook page after being found with a brain tumor in March, six months before a second one was found. Jessica wrote on Facebook that her task was “to encourage kids fighting cancer to NEVER EVER GIVE UP by spreading hope, joy and love. A cheerful heart is great medicine”.

“I love spreading joy to kids with our Joy Jars. I love reading all of the posts on Facebook. I love having so many people praying for me. I love that people are supporting NEVER EVER GIVE UP and allowing us to help kids. I love my family and all of my new friends,” the 12-year-old wrote.

“Thank you all for honoring Jessie by helping her reach her 50,000 goal today. We will NEVER EVER GIVE UP spreading hope, joy and love to kids fighting cancer. Jessie’s dream is now our goal!” her parents wrote on her Facebook page shortly after she died.

In today’s difficult economic time, it’s natural to rethink your goal of studying abroad. Does the benefit outweigh the cost? The answer, in fact, is yes, when you look at the road ahead.

When the economy becomes more challenged, competition for the workforce increases, and employers look for employees with the best credentials（资力）. Having an overseas degree — from a university where strong English skills are required — can make all the difference. The added expertise of a foreign degree, along with more cultural experience, can make you more qualified for many jobs.

A 50-year study of 3,400 students shows that studying abroad is usually a defining moment in a young person’s life and continues to impact the participant’s life for years after the experience.

82% said that they acquired skills that influenced their career path. 70% stated that it ignited（点燃）an interest in a career direction that they pursued after the experience.

And the effect on one’s career can be equally strong. A study by the Queensland, Australia government showed:

61% of employers stated overseas studying experience was positive on a graduate resume. 72% of employers felt that a second language made a graduate a more attractive employee.

Still, there’s the question of how to pay for studying overseas. But the cost doesn’t have to be as high as you think. Scholarships may be available to cover some or all of these costs. And, there are plenty of ways to further offset（抵消）the cost — through financial tips, advice and grants（补助金）.

It’s a rainy spring morning in May, but a steady flow of people from various age groups and cultural backgrounds could already be seen going in and out of the Ioe Fortes Branch of the Vancouver Public Library on Denman Street. One such regular of this branch is Richard Bisson, who lives just across the street. Convenience is a key for the retired court interpreter, as well as access to a wide variety of books in English, French and German.

Still, other community engagement plans involve programs aimed at getting youth to read more and use the library. At the Renfrew Branch, which is close to residential areas and surrounded by a beautiful park, the library partnered with the Renfrew Community Centre to design a camp for teens last year. This year, they’re focusing on elementary kids, with similar programs such as the summer reading club.

Susan Everall, Neighbourhood Services Manager for the Vancouver Public Library, believes that libraries are social, educational and recreational places, where everybody has access.

“A lot of people come in with their laptops, and they spend hours in the library and it’s not necessarily because they don’t have Internet access at home. Sometimes it’s just due to the social feeling,” Everall says.

When it comes to smaller community branches, Everall suggests that some people prefer the smaller space, where they don't feel overwhelmed.

And just like going to your neighbourhood grocery store, Everall believes that community libraries also provide a sense of familiarity, where friends and neighbours can bump into each other.

For a regular like Bisson, the library is a place that keeps us informed because reading shapes our ideas, our culture and our way of thinking. Although he doesn’t participate in library events, he thinks that the Joe Fortes Branch serves the community well, and he’s happy if it provides events for the community.