3 . Every week, even every day, we have lots of different tasks to finish.    1     However, the advantages of volunteering can be huge. Volunteering can offer help to people in need. But the advantages can be even greater for the volunteers. Why?

    2     Studies have found that when you stop thinking about your own problems and focus on someone other than yourself, your stress levels start to go down, your immune system (免疫系统) is strengthened and your overall sense of life satisfaction increases. This is because helping someone else gives you a sense of purpose and makes you pay attention to the positive things in life.

Volunteering helps you develop new relationships.    3     And it gives you the good chance to communicate with them. These can help you form close relationships with them. These relationships can have a lasting influence on your life.

Volunteering teaches you valuable job skills. During volunteering, you can have lots of chances to learn useful and important skills. For example, volunteer organizations always provide on-the-job training courses for volunteers before they start the work. Those courses can help you learn some skills for certain jobs.    4    

Volunteering makes your resume (简历) attractive. Are you stuck for things to write on your resume to get the job you want?    5     Studies have found those who volunteered had a better chance of finding a job than those who didn’t. Whether you do one thing on a regular basis or help with lots of different causes for shorter amounts of time, each voluntary experience you have looks great to your future bosses.

6 . There are so many beautiful places in the world that wait for you to explore, but some of them won’t wait around forever.

The Dead Sea, for example, known for being one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world is in danger of disappearing. Tourists are in the rush to the lake to float（漂浮）in its waters and put its mineral-rich mud on their skin. However, the water level has been dropping more than three feet per year in recent years. In fact, if nothing is done by 2050, it will be too late.

Madagascar’s rainforests could also be gone in about 30 years. They once covered 120,000 square miles, but due to logging（伐木）and forest fires, only 20,000 square miles remain today. This is sad for many animals that call Madagascar home. About 80 percent of the species（物种） that live there can’t be found anywhere else in the world, and there are even many more yet to be discovered.

There are also many man-made places of interest with long history around the world that are at risk of disappearing. One of these is Machu Picchu. A trip to these Inca ruins is on many people’s plan lists. However, Machu Picchu has been in danger, too. If steps are not taken to protect the ancient site, it could be gone in the near future.

Another place in danger is the Great Wall of China. Around one-third of the wall, built over centuries and completed in the Ming dynasty, is already gone. Wind and rain have weathered it and plants that grow in the wall have weakened it further. Also, poor villagers have stolen its bricks in order to sell them or build homes with them.

It’s hard to believe that so many amazing places could soon be gone for good. If you have your heart set on visiting any of these places, pack your bags and get to them before time runs out!

7 . Lens fogging (镜片起雾) has been troubling glasses wearers for as long as glasses have existed; it happens more often to those needing to wear masks (口罩). Researchers from ETH Zurich in Switzerland may have finally come up with a lasting solution to the problem that works whether someone is wearing a mask, or they’ve just come inside from the cold.

There’s no real mystery as to the foggy lenses. It happens when moisture (水分) in wet air, or from someone’s breath, hits a glasses lens that’s colder than said moisture, which then becomes obvious drops. It happens a lot in the winter, when people are coming in from the outside to warm places, or when people breathe out with masks, the warm, wet air goes upwards.

It’s also a problem that plagues car windows, making it hard for a driver to see. The simple solution there is to see. The simple solution there is to heat the windows. But adding electric heaters to glasses, which are designed to be lightweight and comfortable to wear, isn’t really a choice. So ETH Zurich researchers came up with another way to heat glasses lenses. They rely on a new type of glass coating that effectively does the same thing.

The coating is made from very thin gold in such small amounts that the added cost would be very small. The gold takes in a kind of light from the sun, causing glasses lenses to heat up by up to eight degrees. By doing this, it can prevent moisture in the air from forming on the glasses. The coating also cannot be seen by human eyes, not influencing people’s views. Because it’s so thin, the coating can even be applied to surfaces that are not flat.

But this method isn’t perfect. As the gold draws the energy it needs to heat lenses from the sun, the coating won’t do much good in the winter months, when it starts to get dark by late afternoon. But the researchers believe that even a small amount of electricity, like from a battery hidden away in the arms of a pair of glasses, would be enough. And with gold being one of the most valuable metals on earth and still in high demand, the researchers are looking for other metals to replace it.

8 . I remember waking up early on Saturday mornings when I was 12 to go and see patients with my dad. He volunteered once a month at a health center in downtown that served the city’s Spanish-speaking population. He would bring his own equipment — a lamp and a large machine called an autorefractor (自动验光仪). There was always a line of people waiting when we arrived. I’d sometimes help with translating, but often my father would ask me to run the autorefractor, which would give a judgement of the patients’ visual acuity (视力).

After completing checks and treatments, my dad would offer a deeply discounted operation on a later date to those who needed it. Besides volunteering, my father’s practice was one of the few in the area that accepted people without insurance, despite the risk of losing money. He sometimes came home with a piece of artwork or some food from patients who couldn’t pay for their care and instead offered a gift of their talents. He thought all the patients should receive the same care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Volunteering seemed like a task to me at the time. Little did I know that my father was planting the seeds (种子) of serving the Spanish-speaking community in my mind and heart. He never forced me to go into medicine, but what I saw through him was that one person can truly make a difference in the world.

It’s this type of character of devotion and service that has inspired so many doctors to apply for medical school every year. I am fortunate that my father has given an example of this in his 40 years as a doctor because it was what he had done that inspired me to dive into this great job. I can only hope that I can be that same type of light for others.

9 . Dining Room Server - Perfect for High School Students!

Linden Ponds is a beautiful 108-acre continuing care retirement community. It is located just 24 miles from Boston on the South Shore in Hingham, Massachusetts. We’re part of a growing network of communities managed by Erickson Senior Living, a national provider of senior living and health care with campuses in 1l states. We’re finding responsible, kind, and hardworking high school students to join our dining teams. What is perfect for high school students is that the position allows after-school and weekend hours, as well as no late nights.

❖ What we offer:

*Scholarship opportunities are available(可获得的) for students.

*Available education support and student loan partnership programs.

*Opportunities for promotions (晋升) through a variety of departments and locations.

*Quality of life--not your assumed late-night restaurant hours.

*24-hour gated and safe community campus.

*$15 per hour.

❖ How you will make an impact:

*Share daily menus with our residents and offer them recommendations based on knowing their preferences.

*Input food and drinks into our point-of-sale system.

*Correctly record orders for food and drinks.

*Deliver an outstanding dining experience.

❖ What you will need:

*Friendly and energetic communication skills.

*The desire to provide great service.

*Weekday and weekend availability.

❖ Contact us:

*Telephone:617-404-2134

*Address: 300 Linden Ponds Way, Hingham, MA 02043

10 . Travel all around the world and back again. That’s the goal of Hudson and Emily Crider of Lancaster, Pennsylvania — who are aiming to complete this challenge in the year 2024. The couple has so far visited about 120 countries since they began traveling internationally in 2020.

When Hudson’s father suddenly passed away from a heart attack, the pair felt more encouraged than ever to set out on a cross-country journey in January 2017. “My dad was a huge supporter of our trip,” said Hudson. “And that just made us realize how short life is and we want to make the most of each day. So we decided to do what we want at once.”

Despite there being a lot of work ahead, the couple is still really excited about the journey. Seeing each country has been fun, but meeting people and recognizing the kindness of others all around the world has been Emily’s biggest takeaway. “There are ups and downs, but we’ve found people are kind and caring no matter where we’ve gone,” Emily said. She told the story of an Uber driver in Saudi Arabia who kept saying sorry for not presenting them with a gift upon their arrival in his country.

The couple has been able to make their world travels possible by saving for four years before the trip. They’ve also made money for their trip by teaching English online and creating their own content to cover flights. “The most helpful thing about keeping costs low is planning everything out ahead of time, as well as staying in cheap hotels, eating street food and using public transportation,” said Hudson.

For others who are looking to see the world, Emily suggested starting small and enjoying different places in your home country. “Think of the stories you want to tell someday — and then go out and live them,” Emily said.