Competitors had to carry 50 young trees through Tai Lam Country Park and plant them. This park has been seriously affected by hill fires, so we had to replace the trees that were burned down.

The entry fee will help provide care for the trees for three years.

I think this competition is very meaningful, because it helps our environment.

Every day we waste a lot of paper. When we use one piece of paper, we use part of a tree.

If we just cut trees down and do not replace them, our environment will become less and less green.

Carmen Cheng

St Mark's School

Happiness is a question of attitude

Today's generation is afraid of failure. Teenagers can't bear to feel bad. That's why the number of teenagers attempting or committing suicide has increased over recent years.

In the past, teenagers knew how to deal with their pressure. They put their problems into perspective, and spent their time playing with friends.

But today's teenagers are not so easily satisfied. They always need to have the most up-to-date technology, and the most fashionable clothes.

They are more concerned with material wealth than feeling rich in themselves.

And even when they have the latest gadgets, they are still unhappy.

We need to learn to enjoy life, and be happy with what we have. When we have problems, we must learn how to deal with them. When we make mistakes, we must learn from them.

If we can accept that life is not perfect, we will be happier.

Tong Hiu-tung

The right man

March 25 was a big day for the two chief executive candidates Alan Leong and Donald Tsang.

I think Mr Tsang deserved to win. He has been a social servant since 1967. He knows a lot about Hong Kong's society and administration.

Also, the pragmatic policies suggested by Mr Tsang proved he would be a more practical Chief Executive than the ideological Mr Leong.

Congratulations to Mr Tsang on being reappointed. I hope that he, as his election slogan promised, will get the job done.

Christine

TWGHs Wong Fut Nam College

Equal opportunities for everybody

I'm writing in response the article 'Down's syndrome pair walking tall' (SCMP, March 21).

After reading this article, I realised that many people without handicaps are not as capable as Wu Hoi-yu and Lam Wing-shan.

When people get into trouble, many give up rather than try to find a solution. Some even attempt suicide. This is a selfish approach to problems.

Mr Wu and Ms Lam are proof that life's problems can be solved

I also think that the Government should provide more jobs for people who are mentally handicapped. I feel that it be beneficial to both the Government and handicapped people.

Giving jobs to more handicapped people will help the public to learn not to discriminate against those who are different.

Equal employment opportunities will help create a harmonious society.

Wong Miu-yam

Environmental education

Do schools work hard enough to protect the environment?

Everyone knows that Earth is facing serious environmental problems, such as global warming and fossil fuel shortage.

Many schools are teaching their students what they should and shouldn't do to protect the environment.

But my school is wasting paper.

Our school is adopting timetable introducing reading periods on the second and fourth day of the cycle.

On those days, our school print reading materials for the 900 students.

This means the school will waste 1,800 pieces of paper each cycle.

On March 23, our school arranged a site visit for students to the Wan Chai Green Trail and the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence so that we could learn about Hong Kong's environment and history.

The school printed a 15-page work book for us to complete during the visit. This was a waste of paper, too.

The school is encouraging us to protect our environment. But at the same time, it is wasting paper.

If we are going to protect the environment, we need to practise what we preach.

A Student

Teenage love

Many people wonder whether teenagers should date.

I don't think the question has been answered properly yet.

Some people say dating is not a good thing because it affects our study.

Students who have fallen in love often neglect their schoolwork because they spend time with their girlfriends or boyfriends.

But others say that dating isn't a serious problem because it is just another aspect of growing up.

My opinion is that dating doesn't have to be a problem.

I don't think very young children should date because they are not mature enough to respect love.

But I think dating lets us learn about love, which helps us know more about life.

Jasmine Leung Pui-sze

Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School

Appreciate life

People take a lot of things for granted.

But when I broke my leg, I found out how important each part of our body is.

People walk, run and play, but they never think about the importance of their bodies.

People with broken legs or no legs suffer a lot.

Don't take anything for granted.

Otherwise you may have to learn how difficult life can be the hard way.

Chandra Prashanth Ravi

YMCA of Hong Kong

Christian College

More to life than mock exams

It is true that mock exams give us an idea of what to expect in the HKCEE.

They also help us find out which subjects we are strongest and weakest in.

Many students and parents treat it as a prediction for what HKCEE grades will be attained.

Mock exam results often indicate what marks may be attained in the real exam.

Students panic if they get bad results in the mock exams.

But this is not necessary.

Although the results of the mock exams are irreversible, we should not worry too much if we didn't do as well as expected.

It's more important to focus on our weaknesses and work hard to improve.

If we merely sit back and think about the mock exams, we are likely to fail when the real exams come round.

The mock exams are drawing to a close and soon the HKCEE will begin.

It's time to focus on the future.

Apple Cheng