【推荐1】I was shopping in Whole Foods Market when my cellphone rang. My daughter Julianna told me that she got the job she had applied for. She had just turned 14 and was determined to spend this summer vacation on work. The things she wants are both long-term and immediate. She wants to freely buy things from Forever 21 and save money for the famous college she’s determined to get into.

Several weeks before her birthday, Julianna asked me whether I’d allow her to work. Some of her friends’ parents wouldn’t let their kids work, wanting them to focus on their studies and enjoy the last childhood freedom for as long as possible. I understood those parents. But I wanted her to spend less time on her electronic devices in her room and more time in the outside world.

The day after her birthday, Julianna immediately applied to an amusement park, which hires teens during busy summer months. I’d never seen Julianna so active. The day before the interview, we went over possible questions, including why she wanted to work at the amusement park, its most famous attraction, and what her previous work and volunteering experiences were. She rarely talked about anything else until the interview was over.

I never worked as a young teen. My husband, though, worked as a young teen at an amusement park. He shared some funny stories about his time working there. More importantly, the work contributed to his strong work ethic (道德准则) today. Studies also show that work can contribute to healthy development and that teens who work at times are more likely to attend four-year colleges and get degrees quickly.

Julianna used to be so careful about new experiences, but now she is doing something new. I realize it’s time to put aside my doubts and worries and believe she can learn the skills she needs to take care of herself.

【推荐3】Do you feel like you are not living the life you want? It’s your life, so why does it seem like you are not in control? Below are some important lessons for life.

You are constantly (一直) comparing yourself to others.     1     It will mostly contribute to making you feel more miserable (痛苦的) because it produces a lot of bad emotions. Comparing yourself to others is pointless because we all have our own unique paths to follow.     2     This will help you grow and constantly improve yourself.

You are afraid of change. Why are most people afraid of change? Mostly because we fear the unknown, and anything that threatens our serenity (平静) is seen as problematic. But it does not have to be this way.     3     It teaches us to adapt to situations we never knew we could. It helps us discover ourselves. Accepting change also helps us to be more adaptable in life. This will afford you more possibilities and opportunities in your life.

You are wasting time on things you cannot control. The painful truth is that there are many things that you cannot control in your life.     4     How do you stop wasting time on things that are out of your control? Start by finding out what is within your control, such as your attitude, goals and decisions. Then think about what you cannot control, such as other people’s values and behaviours.     5    

Putting these important lessons for life into practice will surely improve your life.

【推荐1】Malavath Poorna,a 13-year-old girl from India，is the daughter of a poor farm laborer who earns barely $600 annually. Belonging to the lowest Indian social class,Poorna had determined to make a mark and be a source of inspiration to other backward people belonging to her community. Therefore, with the encouragement from her parents，Poorna participated in a training program meant for outdoor activities.

While preparing for her Everest climb，Poorna took training in the mountains of Darjeeling and Ladakh. At the end of the strict training sessions，she and another boy of 18 called Anand were the only two selected to climb Everest because they showed “a higher degree of toughness and endurance”.

Malavath Poorna proved that the difference between the impossible and the possible lies in whether a person is strong-willed or not. On 25th of May 2014，she along with 16-year-old Anand Kumar，ascended(登上) the 29，029-foot peak(山峰) and created history by becoming the world’s youngest woman to ascend Mount Everest，the highest peak in the world.

Three days after she arrived at the Everest base camp on 15 April，2014，sixteen local people got killed by a deadly avalanche(雪崩) on the Nepalese side. However，this could not stop Poorna from her peak. Moreover， Poorna’s accomplishment is even more extraordinary since she climbed the peak from the more difficult Tibetan side instead of taking the easier Nepalese side which most climbers chose. Her ascent has been called a rare achievement by Mingma Sherpa，a Nepalese guide who has climbed all fourteen of the world’s peaks over 8，000 meters.

【推荐3】When Cherryl was at primary school, nobody ever called her by her real name. There was always someone making fun of her size. That continued for several years and it made her feel upset.

But one day, when she was eleven, as she was building a tree house in her garden, Cherryl realized she had more physical power than all the boys. She could lift heavy things and do things that other kids couldn’t. So, she decided to try weightlifting.

Cherryl was really good at weightlifting, so her coach encouraged her to take part in competitions. Her talent began to shine. She held every American record in her age group and she also won a bronze medal (铜) at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Cherryl is not only strong but also crazy about her sport. She usually practices for three hours a day. However, this doesn’t mean that weightlifting is her only interest. Just like other teenagers, Cherryl enjoys spending her free time with friends and her two sisters. She also likes drawing and painting and she’s a very talented artist. Her portraits (画像) have won prizes in competitions.

Cherryl’s success has made her an idol, especially among oversized teenagers. She says, “Hopefully, I can set an example to other people who feel they are far from normal and encourage them to do things that are challenging. We’re not all going to be supermodels. What’s important is how you feel and how you act towards others.”