【推荐1】The three months of vacation in the country have passed like a dream. This morning my mother took me to the Baretti schoolhouse to have me enter for the third elementary grade: I was thinking of the country, and went unwillingly (不情愿地). In front of the school so many people had collected that the policeman found it hard to keep the entrance clear. Near the door, I felt myself touched on the shoulder: it was my master of the second grade, cheerful, as usual, and with his red hair ruffled. He said to me: “So we are to part forever, Enrico?” I knew it well, yet the words pained me.

We made our way in with difficulty. I was glad to see once more that large room on the ground floor, with the doors leading to the seven classes, where I had passed nearly every day for three years. My schoolmistress of the first upper class greeted me from the door of the class room, and said: “Enrico, you are going to the floor above, this year. I shall not even see you pass by any more!” And she looked sadly at me.

The school seemed so small and gloomy to me when I thought of the woods and the mountains where I had passed the summer! I thought again, too, of my master in the second class, who was so good, and who always smiled at us, and was so small that he seemed to be one of us; and I was sad that I should no longer see him, with his tumbled red hair. I said to myself: “This is my first day. There are nine months more. What work, what monthly examinations, what tiredness!” I wanted to see my mother when I came out, and I ran to kiss her hand! She said to me:

“Courage, Enrico! we will study together.” And I returned home satisfied. But I no longer have my master, with his kind, merry smile, and school does not seem so nice to me as it did before.

【推荐2】I was ten years old when I started watching lawn tennis. Having developed interest in tennis, I started following and gaining knowledge about the game. The play of the 100th seed was the best according to me until I asked my father who is the number 1 ranked player in the world, to which he replied — Roger Federer.

That was it! I watched his play at Wimbledon and really couldn’t stop admiring this personality. His silky smooth movement, flawless serve, unreachable powerful forehand, amazing footwork—all of it was pretty amazing. I started playing tennis because of him; he was undoubtedly my role model. I followed his career off the tennis court and learned things about him that really made me a better person in life.

There is a feeling of joy in each stroke that Federer plays and a feeling of excitement in each thing he does whether it is giving an interview, doing a press conference, practicing on court or mere signing the tennis balls for fans. There is never a dull moment when he is around, which inspires everyone to be happy and joyous in life in whatever they do. One of the most important things about him which inspires me is his sense of humor.

Federer first congratulates his opponents and never shies from telling them they played wonderfully well, and that luck was on his side today or that he had a good day, instead of attributing the victory to his hours of hard work and training. He always looks for opportunities to praise others.

Another admirable thing about Federer is his love for the game. It teaches me that it’s great to do what you love. You can excel in any profession if you love it from your heart; it then becomes no more a profession but a thing of joy from which you can get satisfaction and fulfilment each day you practice it. It is no more a duty but a sense of fulfilment（成就）.

He is the most respected player in the game and everyone feels privileged to play against him, and some don’t even mind losing to him! This kind of respect is not gained in a few days but in many years by achieving perfectionism both on and off the court, by inspiring and motivating generations to come and becoming a part of history, by not just getting awards on the court but also by being a good man. Federer’s energy motivates me to keep moving on and on in my life, fighting difficulties with a smile and cherishing good moments as well as not so good.

【推荐2】Ke’Nyzjah Ferebee was standing by the kitchen worktop, adding cupcake liners to a pan. She used an ice cream spoon to fill each with cake batter (面糊) to ensure they would look identical. A finished group sat on the counter with white buttercream turning on top. The cupcakes were for a 2-year-old’s “Moana”-themed birthday party. The next day, she had orders for a two-tiered cake and two birthday cakes.

While most teenagers are spending the summer hanging out with friends and working, Ke’Nyzjah is filling orders, updating her website and getting new branding photos. She owns and operates KayKe Bakery, a home-based business, specializing in custom cakes and cupcakes. She offers 14 flavors. She requires at least two to four weeks’ notice on orders, and she gets six to seven a week.

In 2020, she started baking out of boredom and a desire for cake. She asked her mom for a solution. Mom pointed her to a box of cake mix in the cupboard. Ke’Nyzjah’s first attempt failed. But she tried making more cakes the next day. She got better.

She watched hours of YouTube videos to come up with a recipe and to teach herself baking techniques. “Once I got on Instagram and started seeing other people’s decorated cakes, that’s when I got inspired to be a cake artist instead of just a baker,” she said. She took business classes such as digital marketing at her school. She also registered for a course to become a certified customer service specialist. It taught her how to talk to customers and get through a sale. She’s constantly trying to find more ways to promote her business and find new clients. “It’s a little difficult having to keep up with both my Instagram and my Facebook pages and managing school, personal life and a business. It can be a lot sometimes, but I manage.”

Nakesia Fercbec, Ke’Nyzjah’s mother, felt her daughter’s father has been influential. Ke’Nyzjah gives her mother a large of the credit. “She’s like my biggest supporter. She’s made me who I am. I’ve come to realize that I am an incredible person.”

【推荐3】Tom’s teacher Dwyer liked helping others and he had done that for many years. Tom wanted to follow his example, but he found it was too tiring. One day, Tom went to see Dwyer. They sat quietly in Dwyer’s old house, cutting wood with their knives in front of the fireplace. Tom finally spoke up.

“I don't know how you do it,” he said.

“Do what?” asked Dwyer.

“I don’t know how you stay motivated (积极的) to help people after so many years. I feel like giving up and I’ve hardly started.”

Dwyer smiled and replied, “Can you blow out that candle for me?” Tom did as he was asked.

“Now can you blow out this fire?” Dwyer asked.

“Don’t be silly,” Tom replied. “Of course I can’t.”

Dwyer put down his knife and his piece of wood and looked in the eye of Tom. He said , “When your motivation is as small as the candle’s flame (火焰), it’s easy to be extinguished, but when it is a fire you see before you, nothing can blow it out.”

After hearing that, Tom decided to try harder.

My challenge to you is to find a big reason for doing what you want to do. Then you won’t give up when you meet with difficulties and when you feel tired. If you don’t have a big reason to press on, it’s easy for you to give up.

So let me ask you, is your motivation like a candle or a fire? And what are you going to do to keep it from dying down?