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SCMP Reporter

Circus act a special project
A charitable organisation has established a circus team to help children with special needs to overcome prejudice.
The programme also provides an opportunity for these children to show their talents by giving performances in hospitals, elderly homes and at carnivals.
This is a very good activity.  In our society, there aren't enough facilities for children with special needs. They seldom have a chance to mix with ordinary people.
The programme can help build friendship and trust and break down barriers between the two parties.
The public should also take the initiative to communicate with special needs children  in order to open up their minds.
This way, we can make our society more harmonious.
Pui-yi, Po Leung Kuk 1984 College
Keep your mum happy every day
'Do your homework,  don't play online games, eat more vegetables, go to sleep earlier ...'
Does this advice sound familiar?  That's what our mothers usually say to us.
We may argue with them but they want us to be successful.
We should think positively. Don't always complain about your mother who loves you very much.
You should be more obedient and have a healthy lifestyle. Don't let your mother worry about you.
Think of every day as Mother's Day.
Coco Cheng Hoi-tan, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College
All-round skills
Nowadays, there is more emphasis on learning. We spend about 15 years in school, while some of us further our studies to  acquire more knowledge.
With the  government promoting lifelong learning, even middle-aged  people are joining training programmes to  equip themselves with new skills.
But learning is not limited to acquiring knowledge.  It is also  about communicating with others and treating them fairly.
We should grab every chance to learn and  improve ourselves.
Derek Yip, Hang Seng School of Commerce
MTR provides superb service
Many Hongkongers complain that the MTR is over-crowded during peak hours and passengers have bad manners.
I think the city's rail system is one of the best in the world.
Thousands of commuters use the MTR every day but there are very few arguments between them.
When compared with other major cities, the local rail network is very safe, clean and efficient.
We rarely see a robbery on the MTR even during  rush hour and there are few breakdowns.
Some would argue that passengers still eat and drink on the trains, but this is a minority.
I agree that there's room for improvement. People can behave better and the stations can be cleaner, but no system is perfect.
As Hong Kong citizens, we should be proud of the MTR and make sure we tell visitors that we have one of the best railway networks in the world.
Kerwin So Shing-kai, SKH Li Fook Hing Secondary School
Comparison can lead to trouble
When we see a friend or family member enjoying a seemingly perfect relationship, we may start to doubt our abilities.
Or, if we see a friend struggling in a relationship, we will think highly of ourselves. This is how  'comparison' can affect you.
If you  play this 'comparison game', you  won't gain anything but frustration. Why?  Because you will always turn a blind eye to your amazing skills.
If you aren't prepared  to  recognise your talents,  comparison will be  a source of jealousy and desperation.  Your relationships should be evaluated based on your needs, not on the relative success of those around you.
How  do you know whether a good relationship involving different people  suits your own standards?
You have to  identify what you want and then struggle to achieve it.
Wong Man-hei
Stay calm in the face of adversity
Anger is described as an intense feeling of irritation, displeasure or dissatisfaction. Anger harms us and can even destroy us.
You may have experienced how anger can affect relationships with your family, friends and neighbours.
Some people believe that it is all right to get angry under certain circumstances. This may be because things are not turning out the way they would like, such as their boss not giving them a pay rise or their child behaving badly.
But we should be calm in the face of adversity. We can hurt others by our actions or words.
So we need to find different ways of releasing our frustrations. That means whatever problems we face, we need to control our emotions and be positive.
Vijay Varma, California School
Illegal downloads
The internet provides us many advantages.  But things are not as wonderful as we imagine. When you download the latest songs and movies from the internet, do you think about the artists?
Don't they deserve to earn a profit by selling their products?
Apart from affecting the artists' income, illegal downloads may also damage the development of the showbiz industry.
If the situation deteriorates, cinemas and CD shops may have to close and people will lose their jobs. This could cause social instability. It's time to stop illegal downloads.
Tsoi Kwan-nok, Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College



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