【推荐1】Growing ups I always envied my friends who lived in one town in their whole lives. Coming from a military family makes this impossible. My brothers and I soon found that if we didn’t like a place we lived in, we’d soon be moving to a new place. Through all the ups and downs, I now realize that’s everything I’ve done, seen, and learned has made me into the person I am today.

The field day was the best day ever created. Being good at sports which I had done together with parents seemed to help me find my position at a new school. Despite the hot weather in San Antonio, Texas, I had to take outdoor activities. Sometimes we took the family mountain biking after school. My brothers and I were arranged to join in the swim team and practice yoga. These are the things I remember about my childhood. Now I thank my parents for teaching me these vital principles, which I will have with me the rest of my life.

I was always the shy girl and afraid to be myself. This didn’t bother me until I reached junior high school, when some girls judged me by what I wore, who I talked to and how skinny I was. I felt like I’d never done anything wrong to deserve such criticism. It was not until last year that I realized that I had to stay different from them and live my life according to my principles. I decided to be my own person. I never thought that being nice could cause me to be disliked. Anyway, I began hanging out with girls who had a lot in common with me like preferring outdoor sports. They were accepting and non-judgmental. I am now content with knowing that I am my own person and don’t let others control my life.

【推荐2】I have a degree in business. However, it was my father’s decision for me to follow a business major(专业). He thought that having a business degree would make me more competitive and provide me with more available options in entering a global marketplace. I took his advice. However, even though my college experiences were fantastic, I still had no interest in any field of commerce, let alone having a long-term career(职业) as a businesswoman.

After I graduated, I worked as a marketing planner at a computer company. My pay and working environment were great; however, I still didn’t feel happy doing something that I wasn’t interested in. After two months of working there, I made up my mind to quit and decided to do what I love, namely teaching English. I have now been an English teacher for over twenty years. I love my job and love being with my students.

If you are in a place where you don’t love what you are learning or doing, please ask yourself what you are really enthusiastic about, and what you truly want for your life. Don’t rush to get yourself a quick answer. Take some time to think about what career could make you happy. The important thing is that you are happy and then you are able to bring happiness to people around you. Therefore, you will be a success. There is a quote(引语) that says, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

【推荐3】My phone rang after I boarded a plane. It was my PhD adviser calling to tell me there were identified flaws in the paper I had just published in Nature. My stomach dropped as he told me the authors of the critique(评论)were demanding a retraction(撤回). That day I spent the 16-hour flight processing a mix of emotions—disbelief, embarrassment, frustration.

After the plane landed, I immediately read the critique myself, which was harsh and thorough, pointing out several fundamental flaws in our methods and in the basic data. The fallout was swift and intense. I received a flood of emails and messages. Some were from supportive colleagues, but many were harshly critical of my work.I was depressed, wondering what this would mean for my career.

I wrote a response, correcting the apparent errors in the data set. When it became clear that the retraction was unavoidable, I formally offered my resignation to my department head. He didn’t accept it, saying a resignation wasn’t needed considering the errors in the paper were honest mistakes.

The experience helped me grow as a scientist. I know it is better to be open and accountable, even if it means admitting mistakes. I can’t expect myself to know everything as a scientist and my work will be stronger if I seek out diverse expertise and opinions.

The reality is that retractions are a necessary part of the scientific process—and one that shouldn’t be viewed only through a negative lens. Retractions can also be an opportunity to learn and improve. Honest mistakes happen, and researchers should be encouraged, not punished, for doing the right thing and retracting flawed work.

【推荐2】How to escape from a car in water

“If you get on your phone and call your parents or your sister, or 911, you will die,” says Robert May, a 21-year-old veteran(老兵) of the Indiana State. No one else will arrive in time: you have to save yourself.

Move quickly. Minivans(微型货车) might float for as long as10 minutes.     1     In a study from the University of Manitoba, three passengers were able to exist with a child mannequin(人体模型) through a single driver-side window in just 3 seconds.

Unbuckle(揭开)your seat belt, lower your window and climb out, ideally onto the roof of the vehicle.     2    Unfasten them from the backseat, pull them into the front and push them out of your window, oldest ones first. In May’s experience, electric car windows will continue to work after falling into water.     3    

Don’t open the door, water will flood in. Once full of water, the vehicle will sink fast.     4    Vehicle submersions (淹没) have one of the highest death rates of any type of single-motor-vehicle incidents, responsible for 400 deaths a year in North America.

After you get on top of your car, figure out if it makes sense to stay put or swim for dry ground.     5    Just get out first, May says.

【推荐1】When I was in my second year in senior high school, I found a four-dollar-an-hour part-time job at Villa-nova Pizza. Like many of my friends, I longed to earn some pocket money from the job as well as gaining social experience. Just one week after I worked there, Stubby, the manager, called me into his office. As the saying goes, “life isn’t a bed of roses”. My first job ended in failure, His reason was that I showed up late twice and took more breaks than others. “Oh, I’m a loser,” I thought to myself. I believed that thought was shared by my brothers, neither of whom had ever been fired, and my mother, though she would never express it in those terms.

“I am too sad to do anything,” I complained to my father. After listening to my words, he laughed. “It’s not funny; I’m a loser,” I said.

“No, you’re not. This is a part of growing up. You will be all right, my dear daughter,” he said, patting my shoulder. “Trust me. You are good enough.”

I looked into my father’s eyes and I could see he really trusted me. And I believed him. Since then, “Trust me. You are good enough” are the only words I have repeated to myself. I have worked hard to be a better person and cherished every chance I have got.

Finally, I succeeded in entering a good university. After graduation I found my dream job. I couldn’t wait to call my father and show my gratitude.

Look ahead when you experience something unpleasant and there is always someone around believing in you. When they believe in us, we begin to believe in ourselves, too. They tell us we are good enough over and over until we can hear it.

【推荐2】I climbed Kilimanjaro with Lava Expedition during the rainy season. I flew to Nairobi in Kenya and spent several days there. At my hotel in Nairobi I met the rest of the group with whom I would spend the next week. We all travelled on the bus together for a 6-hour journey into Tanzania and then Arusha, a quiet town.

After we arrived at our hotel in Arusha, we had dinner and a few drinks. Then we were introduced to more members including Taddeus Minja, the main guide, who was very experienced-climbing Kilimanjaro runs through the generations of his family.

The next day the Lava Expeditions members checked if we had the correct and enough clothing for our expedition on Kilimanjaro. Only one person needed to bring more clothes.

After that we set off, walking in the rain through the beauty of the rainforest, all the way to the first camp. I was happy the next few days as the view was so wonderful and change every day. I suffered a little during the trip and I felt so tired. But the members of Lava Expeditions provided me with lots of encouragement, which was one of the best memories. Finally, we reached the top of Kilimanjaro in bright blue skies. I felt excited about climbing Kilimanjaro and the feeling didn’t change during my trip.

Lava Expeditions looked after me so well that I was deeply thankful for their help.

【推荐3】As a boy growing up in India, I had longed to travel abroad. I used to listen to the stories my father would tell me about his stay in Canada and tours to Europe in the 1970s, with great interest.

My big moment finally came in the summer of 1998 when I was able to accompany my parents to Europe, where my father was to attend a meeting. We planned to travel to Belgium, Netherlands and West Germany.

I have clear memories even today of going to Mumbai airport at night all excited about finally going abroad. I had heard several great things about Lufthansa till then but now I finally got to experience them first hand, during the flight to Frankfurt. We flew business class and even today I can remember the excellent service by the Lufthansa crew (工作人员). The flight was really smooth and thoroughly enjoyable, even for someone like me, who is especially afraid of flying.

After spending almost two weeks in Europe, we took the Lufthansa airport express from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt airport for our return. What a journey that was! All along the Rhine (莱茵河), it was simply an unforgettable experience. I had a sad feeling on the flight back to Mumbai as it marked the end of a wonderful vacation, but the Lufthansa crew members were able to change it into a most enjoyable experience yet again, with the quality of their service.

Being the first airline to take me abroad, Lufthansa will always hold a special place in my heart. Even today, I continue to enjoy flights on Lufthansa and simply cannot dream of choosing any other airline. Flying, in general, for me, has always been a terrible and painful experience. Flying on Lufthansa, however, is something I always have and will always look forward to.