Jin Ying, 25, is a lover of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She took part in a three-month training course on acupuncture and tuina (针灸推拿) in the winter of 2023 at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

Jin’s life has been different since the training. She changed her life habits after learning the Five Elements theory. For example, she avoided sweating too much during exercise in winter because the cold of winter means people should slow down, according to TCM. For her, learning these skills and theories was not about becoming a TCM doctor but rather about holding a new lifestyle.

She is not an unusual example of young people becoming interested in TCM. A survey by China Youth Daily showed that 93.3 percent of the 1,000 young people who took part had tried different TCM treatments.

“I have seen a rising number of young people come to me for neck and back pains, which are usually related to the elderly,” said Ma Huifang, a TCM doctor at Guoyitang, a TCM hospital.

Between Western medicine and TCM, young people often choose TCM “because of its efficacy,” according to Ma. Some people question why TCM treats the same illnesses with different prescriptions (处方). “This is actually an advantage of TCM, rather than a shortcoming, as it can be a more accurate treatment (精准的治疗) for different patients,” Ma explained.

Younger age groups are accepting TCM, and, at the same time, TCM is also benefiting young people. As Jin noted, “It helps young people understand Chinese medicine well.”

①“Volunteering (做志愿工作) can make a real difference to the world. It makes you look at the world differently. You see how little things can change a person's life for the better, which makes everyone a better person.” Mason, a volunteer said.

②National Volunteer Week started in 1974 and is held every April. It is a time to thank volunteers for their achievements. It is also a perfect opportunity (机会) to encourage others to take their first step toward becoming a volunteer. Making the decision to take the first step can be the biggest problem, because they often wonder if they will be able to meet the organization’s expectations (期望). Some people fear not knowing anyone else in the group. Not having enough time also stops some from sharing their abilities. The following tips can help if you have some of these worries.

③Start out slowly, don’t add too much pressure (压力). Even a few hours a month can make a big difference in someone’s life.

④Choose an organization (组织) with the same interests and common values.

⑤Take part in a training meeting for new volunteers, even if it is not asked.

⑥Work with a experienced volunteer. He volunteered a lot, he can help you increase the confidence and completely understand the organization’s expectations.

⑦Invite a friend or family member to serve. It is a good experience to volunteer with them.

⑧Finally, it is most important to enjoy the volunteer experience and to remember that not all volunteer experiences are perfect. If one experience doesn’t work, don’t give up and you’ll surely find the right opportunity.

⑨Spend some time on volunteer work and you will see great changes in people’s lives. As Mason discovered during his volunteer experience, “... little things can change a person’s life.”

No one can deal with all the problems on his own. We all have to ask for favors (寻求帮助) sometimes. But it can be a difficult thing to do, even when you ask a good friend. So how can you ask for a favor and be sure to get a positive response (正面回应)? Here are some suggestions.

Be a nice person. When you ask someone for a favor, you’re really asking the person to go out of his or her way to help you. Show the person that you understand he or she is doing something especially nice for you. If people think you’re friendly, they’re more likely (可能的) to want to help.     12     And, of course, a smile goes a long way.

    13     How do people respond to requests (请求) like this one, “Hey, Mike, lend me your car!” ? They probably refuse. How can you avoid this problem? Be especially careful with how you show your request. For example, say, “Mike, would you mind doing me a favor?” Mike will probably respond like this, “Maybe. What do you need?”     14     People are more likely to agree to help you when they know the whole story.

Show your respect (尊重). If someone agrees to do you a favor, allow the person to choose when he or she helps you. Be respectful of the other person’s time, and try not to ask for too much.     15     Don’t make a habit of asking for favors, and always make sure you’re ready to do someone a favor in return.