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SCMP Reporter

We all need a little pressure in life
Sometimes it can seem we  have too much pressure.   But a little  pressure can be good for us.
For example, if we don't have the pressure of deadlines for our homework, we may end up not doing it. If we don't do our homework, we're not getting the most out of our schooling.
While too much pressure may discourage us and make us give up, we can't  be successful without pressure.  A certain amount of pressure can encourage people to try their best  at a task. It can be a driving force for us to accomplish what we want.
To avoid pressure becoming a burden, it's important for  us to learn to manage our pressure.
Wendy Wong, STFA Tam  Pak Yu College
Don't let doubt keep you from goals
Following his world and Olympic record-breaking swims last week, there can't be many people who don't know who  Michael Phelps is.
But while his achievements are incredible, I think his  attitude is even more impressive.
As a child, Phelps was diagnosed with an attention deficiency disorder, meaning  he didn't do particularly well at school. His older sisters both went to swimming classes, so his mum sent him along too.
But at first some people doubted his ability. Even going into the Beijing Olympics, Australian Olympic champion Ian Thorpe said he doubted Phelps would be able to beat the Olympic medals haul record held by American Mark Spitz.
But Phelps uses this negativity to push himself even harder - and proved Thorpe wrong.
Phelps wants to prove to the world he can do anything. He believes the sky is the limit. If anyone doubts his ability, he works to prove them wrong.
We can learn a lot from him. If you believe in yourself, you can achieve anything.
Cheung Hoi-ching, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu  Memorial College
Liu Xiang will  always be a hero
Before 1.3 billion Chinese citizens,  champion hurdler Liu Xiang dropped out of the 110m hurdles heat.  When Liu took off his identification tag and walked out of the lane, I was shocked.
Liu was under enormous pressure to win. But he was also in a lot of physical pain. His departure left Chinese fans stunned and heartbroken.
But I don't think he has  let us down.
Even though he was in pain, Liu still went out to the track. He was ready to race until the last moment when the pain almost stopped him from moving.
I admire his bravery and hope the injury heals soon.
But we must remember the Olympics are not just about winning.
We tend to glorify gold medal-winners, ignoring the importance of participation. That's the most important aspect of the Games - taking part. Liu Xiang will always be a hero to me.
Ivy
Sibling benefits
Many couples these days opt to have only  one child. They feel they can pay more attention to a single child, and still focus on their careers.
But in my opinion, having more than one child can be beneficial. Because in many families, both parents work, so having more than one child means children won't be lonely.
A child with siblings is also more likely to get along with other people and be able to communicate well.
Of course, the decision as to how many children to have is up to the parents. But I think there are strong arguments for not having a single child.
May Wah
Your future is in your hands
Some people claim to be able to predict the future.  They get paid a lot of money by those who want to know what their lives hold.
They think if there is something bad in their future, they can do something to prevent it from happening.
I don't know why anyone believes these predictions. There is only so much we can really know about the future. We don't know how other factors or people will affect what happens to us.
And we can also shape  our own lives. If we want something, such as a good job, we can work hard to achieve that. We can't rely on what a fortune-teller says.
Save your money and make your dreams come true.
Cheung Ka-man
Elderly lessons
I recently took part in a joint school activity with students from Leung Shek Chee College, Sing Yin Secondary School and Hoi Ping Secondary School.
We went to an old people's home. It was an exciting day. We sang with the residents and then made tong yuen. They were less sweet than usual, but someone explained this was to protect the elderly from developing diabetes.
It was a challenging and meaningful day. I met a lot of new people - both students and elderly.
The day made me realise how important it is to spend time with elderly people. They are interesting and talkative.
If we are patient and prepared to give up some of our time, we can have a great time and learn a lot from them.
Ivy Lee Wai-ling
In memoriam
On August 10, a tragic fire killed four people, including two firemen. These men sacrificed their lives for others.
Hongkongers will always remember these heroes.
The terrible accident also reminds us to ensure our homes are equipped with safety measures to deal with this sort of emergency.
Deland Ng Tze-ying, SKH Li Fook Hing Secondary School



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