Enter A New Stage

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the worst part of growing up: junior high. Now comes the final run to be an adult.

As far as schoolwork goes, high school may not seem too different. Books. Teachers. Homework. Exams. If you enjoy school, this may sound exciting.     1     For high school has a lot to offer.

When you grow up as an adult, you may meet some hateful things like finishing a task before a fix time, responsibilities and other silly things. Adults have few chances to safely make mistakes.     2     It’s the best chance you will ever have to take big risks.

So, join some clubs. Make friends. Make enemies(敌人). Do something you’re afraid of. Think about what you’re good at, what you’re bad at and what brings you joy.

In my first year of high school, I picked up my friend’s guitar. From that day on, I have never stopped playing music.     3    

High school is also when teachers started to praise me on my writing. I don’t always like writing, but it’s all anyone says I’m good at. Now writing puts food on my table.

All my regrets from high school are risks I didn’t take.     4     I was nervous, and learning lines(台词) looked like hard work. I was afraid to fail onstage. Rather than make no effort, I should have tried and failed.

Why? Here is the big secret about high school: Every moment of it feels important, but almost none of it is.     5    

To do that, you must take risks. What’s the biggest risk? Giving effort. You could fail in the end. But if your biggest failures come in high school, it means you have a bright future ahead.

【推荐3】When I was a kid in Minnesota, watermelons were expensive. One of my father’s friends, Bernie, was a rich businessman, who owned a large store in St. Paul.

Every summer, when the first watermelons arrived, Bernie would call. Dad and I would go to Bernie’s place. We’d sit on the edge of the dock ( 码头 )and got ready for a big meal. Bernie would take his knife, cut our first watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit down next to us. Then we’d bury our faces in watermelon, eating only the heart — the reddest, juiciest, firmest, sweetest, and most seed-free part — and throw away the rest.

Bernie was my father’s ideal of a rich man, I always thought it was because he was such a successful businessman. Years later, I realized that it was not Bernie’s wealth itself but his way of dealing with it that my father liked. Bernie knew how to stop working, get together with friends and eat only the heart of the watermelon.

What I learned from Bernie is that being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to eat only the heart of the watermelon. If you don’t take the time to enjoy life’s small pleasure, your work is probably hurting your life.

For many years, I forgot that lesson I’d learned as a kid on the dock I was too busy making all the money I could. I hope I have time left to enjoy the success of others and to take pleasure in the day. That’s the heart of the watermelon. I have learned again to throw the rest away.

【推荐2】Facebook was running my life. But what killed Facebook for me was when I posted a photo, and five minutes later my son asked me how many “likes” it had got. His question was a wake-up call.

“Likes” are signs of acceptance and approval (赞同). I had forgotten that acceptance and approval need to come from within and had unknowingly set him a bad example.

Before absorbed in Facebook, I spent a lot more time reading books and magazines. I checked in with friends through texts, emails and phone calls.

To set a healthier example to my son, I deactivated my Facebook account.

I’d been in the habit of checking Facebook many times a day, so I had to come up with some new habits. I carried a novel and a crossword puzzle book around with me. I rediscovered knitting. I started taking yoga classes.

I started to remember a few things. My body is fine just the way it is. I have friends who will help me out when I’m in trouble, and I will help them out. I do my best to be a good mother, and our son is happy and healthy. We are very lucky to be able to afford two vacations a year.

I stopped looking at the world through my cellphone. I felt completely (完全地) present in the moment. The break left me feeling better about myself, my family, my home and my life.

After a few weeks, I returned to Facebook. Now I look at the photos of my friends’ kids growing up and treasure how social media allows me to keep in touch with family. I no longer have the desire to post updates often.

It is not an addiction (上瘾) any more,

【推荐1】If you live in the United States, the law says you can't have a full-time job until you are 16 years old. At 14 or 15, you can work part time after school or on weekends, and during summer you can work 40 hours each week. Does all that mean that if you are younger than 14, you can't earn your own money? Of course not! Kids who are between the ages of 10 and 13 can earn money by doing lots of things.

Valerie, 11, told us that she made money by cleaning up other people's yards. Lena, 13, makes money by knitting (织) dog sweaters and selling them to her neighbors, and Reisa said she had started taking art classes and showing her work to people. People have asked her to draw pictures for them and they pay her for them. Jasmine, 13, writes articles for different magazines!

Earning is learning. By working to earn your own money, you are learning the skills you will need to succeed in life. These skills can include things like getting along with others, using technology and using your time. Some people think that asking for money is a lot easier than earning it; however, when you make your own money, you don't have to depend on someone else. The five dollars that you earn will probably make you feel a lot better in your hand than the twenty dollars you ask for.

【推荐2】Peter Franklin is a taxi driver in New York City. He thought a lot about New York City. One day, he decided to go to radio stations to let more people know New York. Now, he had over 40,000 shows. They were both on the radio and Internet.

At first, he talked about things and people, but not about himself. But over the years he found that people loved to know more about him.   

He is still talking about his city, his world and himself. He feels that he helps others know New York City better. He wants to keep doing this, because he loves it.

He isn’t just a taxi driver — he is an ambassador (大使) of a great city. He is a quiet person with few words, but when he talks about his city, he talks a lot. I like him and I like every one of you with the idea of making the world better!