【推荐1】During his second year in college, Ben took a few business classes. They got his head spinning with ideas to start his own business. He started by thinking about things he liked. First, it was clothing. Then coffee. He thought about opening up a coffee shop. But both ideas seemed too hard and costly.

Some might give up right there and keep going about their regular life. But Ben is different. He kept thinking and came up with the idea of selling his own brand of coffee. He felt like there was potential to do this without too much money or risk. He didn’t give up. So he took to the Internet and started doing research. He eventually found a coffee bean supplier. He learned about all of the legal affairs of starting a business. It all seemed daunting but he stuck to it.

After setting up his business and starting to order coffee he began testing different versions with his friends and family. He got feedback and improved his product. He appropriately named his company Clouds Coffee Company. He had a little bit of savings from his birthdays but that was far away from starting a business. So, he traded with an advertising designer to help him with his naming, logo, product pictures, photography, and website design. In return, he would supply him with coffee in exchange for his design talent!

Ben received great support from his tutor, Clyde Rucker, a very successful businessman and best friend of his grandparents. Many others in the community supported Ben in his earliest day, trying to help him succeed at such a young age. They were inspired by his activeness and energy. And his good coffee!

Ben Cloud is a fantastic example of a young person struggling to become the best version of himself.

【推荐2】At school last Thursday, I sat next to a girl who was coughing. I covered my mouth to protect myself from the cold. However, the moment I got home, I knew those germs (病菌) had gotten to me. I had a headache. My mom checked my temperature. Sure enough, I had a fever. My dad asked me to stay home from school until I got better. I was feeling down because I had a science test the next day, and I didn’t want to miss it.

The next day, my dad took me to the doctor’s. The doctor said I had the flu (流感). He advised me to get a lot of rest, drink hot and take some medicine. While at home, I slept most of the day. When I woke up, I tried to study for my science test. However, I couldn’t stay awake long enough to study. At that moment, resting was more important than studying.

    After being home from school for four days, I finally felt better and returned to my classroom. My teacher, Mrs. Jenkins, gave me the science test I had missed earlier. She sent me into another classroom to finish it while my class went over the answers together. I knew I was going to have a lot of makeup work, but at least I was feeling healthy enough to take the test. Great!

【推荐1】Like many six-year-olds, Sam Pointon loves trains and dreams of working with them when he grows up. However, when the position for Director of the National Railway Museum in England was offered, Sam couldn’t help applying for it. And he got the job finally!

It all began during a family vacation, when Sam’s dad noticed the job opening. He joked that it would be the perfect position for little Sam when he grew up. But Sam thought he was able to do the job. After all, he had been on several train rides, owned an electric train and had mastered the technique of controlling two trains at once.

Little Sam’s handwritten letter caught the eye of the museum staff, who were so impressed by his enthusiasm that they decided to hire (雇用) him.

While the job doesn’t pay anything, it does have its perks (补贴). But young Sam doesn’t care about it. He thinks it would be an important experience for him. Therefore, he has been doing his job quite seriously and has already suggested that the museum should set up a model train area to attract more children.

In order to encourage Sam, his family was invited for a special VIP, behind-the-scenes tour of the museum, which covers more than 400 years of railroad history and houses over 100 old trains. They were also given free tickets to see a stage adaptation (版) of the popular kids’ book The Railway Children.

Sam is so serious about his new position that the six-year-old believes he doesn’t even have to go to school anymore — which of course, is not the case. His parents just haven’t had the heart to tell him yet!