They gain fame simply because of their excellent achievements. Many celebrities have such a heavy workload that they rarely see their family or friends.

But I am sure they would always want to keep their private lives out of public view.

Hong Kong's paparazzi are too intrusive. They include all the details about the entertainers, including their love affairs, in their reports.

Others take photographs of celebrities with their boyfriends or girlfriends. Most of these pictures are splashed across magazine covers or newspapers which can be embarrassing.

I believe there should be a limit to this behaviour.

The media and the celebrities need to respect each other.

I don't believe we should ban paparazzi, but it is time they seriously considered the feelings of celebrities and respected their privacy.

Linda Chan Wing-si, Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College

Life-long learning

When I was young, I didn't raise my hand to answer a teacher's question.

I was afraid that if I gave the wrong answer, my classmates would laugh at me. I lacked confidence.

Nowadays, people talk about life-long learning. We need to learn how to love and forgive others. We should also help people in need and always be grateful.

Many people who live in poorer parts of the world do not receive an education. About 100 million children don't go to school. And 43 million children cannot receive an education because of war.

We should treasure the opportunity to learn.

Next time, when the teacher asks you a question, you should raise your hand and have a go. Then you can check your understanding of different concepts.

Last but not least, I urge you to be life-long learners.

Rachel Chan Wing-yi

Light bulb hazards

A cleaners' union and a green group found that discarded fluorescent tubes and energy-saving light bulbs release a toxic chemical that could harm the environment.

Many cleaners who break the light bulbs so they fit into a rubbish bin are not aware that they may be releasing mercury into the atmosphere.

This is a serious issue because touching mercury can also cause health problems for the workers.

The government should provide guidelines on the dangers posed by mercury to the public, especially the cleaners.

Also, additional collection bins should be installed for discarded light bulbs and tubes.

Tang Yan-yan, Our Lady of the Rosary College

Happy school life

I enjoy school life because of my friendly classmates and wonderful English teacher, Mr Lui.

Our class has a great time studying and playing together.

Our friendship is unique and forever.

Mr Lui is a very nice person who always has a smile on his face. Also, he never speaks Cantonese during lessons. He wants to persuade students to talk in English so they can improve their communication skills.

He is very patient and sometimes cracks jokes to make us laugh and enliven the environment.

I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Lui because he is such a fantastic teacher.

I have a happy school life. I hope that all the students will also enjoy their school life!

Chan Kwan-lok

Joys of dance

I like many dance types, including ballet, Chinese dance, jazz, hip hop, and modern, Latin and ballroom dance. Like ballet, Chinese dance has a very long history, but it is not so popular.

Ballet dancers wear dazzling costumes, backed by live music. The government should put more effort into raising the profile of Chinese dance.

During the summer holidays, I learned different kinds of dance, including the cha cha and waltz.

Latin dance has become more popular mainly after a TV station organised a Latin and ballroom dancing competition last year.

But only a few parents send their children to learn Latin dance because it is very difficult to find a suitable partner.

Latin dance includes the cha cha, rumba, jive, paso doble and samba. Paso doble is my favourite because it has a brisk tempo.

I encourage all of you to dance because you can burn calories and have lots of fun.

Gloria Lam, SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School

Friendly advice

Everyone needs friends. If you fail to make friends, you should examine yourself and find out what's wrong with your personality.

Whatever your social weaknesses are, look at them honestly and try your best to correct them.

Making friends is simple: you should be friendly. A smile is a magnet which attracts people. Smile at someone and you are almost sure to be rewarded.

A friendly person tries to make a stranger feel at home.

If you don't agree with others on a certain issue, don't be angry. Discuss because arguments won't help. People who refuse to consider others' feelings make few friends.

Finally, don't treat people according to their social status. You should respect everyone at all times.

Chan Hoi-hei, Fung Kai Liu Man Shek Tong Secondary School