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SCMP Reporter

Treasure life
Flipping  through the newspapers, we see that people are trying to commit suicide for many  crazy reasons - some  think that no one loves them, then there are those who believe  that their life  is ruined, and so on. I wish  people didn't think like this.
As everyone knows, life is very precious. I always think people who commit suicide are just very innocent.
The just don't know what life is.  It's not just their life, but also everyone's life! They  don't think of the pain they  cause when they commit suicide.
I want to tell everyone to treasure their lives.
Christy Chow, Marymount Secondary School
Think hard because marriage is forever
One of my teachers is going to marry his  loved one.
Many young couples nowadays consider marriage unnecessary.
However, I disagree. Getting married means that your partner has decided to live with and love you for  the rest of their lives.  So you should never tell lies to  them, ignore  them or look down on  them. What you should do, and I believe what every married  person is willing to do, is  support your  spouse  at all times.
No matter what  they are experiencing,  you should  lend a hand.
This is why  you should  decide how much  you love your partner before marriage.
Simply living together is a totally different case. Let's say your roommate is suffering from cancer.
If you really loved  them,  you  would do everything for  them. If not, however, you are still 'free'  to leave them alone, though many people would accuse you of cruelty.
The difference between marriage and living together is so great that everybody should think twice before walking into the church.
I hope Mr Tang will enjoy his marriage for the rest of his life.
Kasper Lee
Remember to smile
Have you ever found it difficult to relieve yourself when you're depressed? Why not try to smile?
Instead of  feeling bad about whatever happens to you, a smile can make you forget all the unhappy things and recall a lot of happy memories. A smile can also save others from sadness.
There is no doubt that you feel relaxed when someone is smiling at you. Therefore, grab every chance to smile and share your happiness with others.
Lau Kin-yip
Cardboard coffins - a green way to go
What can we do to protect our  planet?
You  might list the most common ways, such as saving paper, using public transport and consuming less plastic bags. But have you ever thought of substituting cardboard coffins for wooden ones?
Using  traditional coffins is not environmentally-friendly. They  are made by cutting down trees.
It is common  knowledge that it takes more than a decade to grow a tree. Yet, when we push the coffin into the incinerator and press a button, one of our valuable natural resources becomes useless ash within a few minutes. Obviously this is a huge waste.
Trees are crucial for regulating  global temperatures because they absorb greenhouse gases. Burning wood, however, releases a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Using cardboard coffins does not imply that the dead  are treated  badly. Instead, the family  could donate the amount saved to charity. Using money in a more meaningful way is a blessing for the dead.
Death is inevitable, whereas everyone can avoid suffering from global warming. Please choose a green way to go!
Chan Hiu-man, Hang Seng School of Commerce
Simple is best
Some students believe they are good  at English because they can use difficult words.
Very often, they  look for difficult  vocabulary in the dictionary when they  write compositions. But sometimes, they do not use  these words correctly. This is a bad phenomenon. Since English is an international language, we use it widely to communicate with each other.
Actually, people who are good  at English can use simple words and phrases to express their ideas clearly. Communication is  about making our opinions and feelings known or understood by others.  But if people don't  know what we mean, what is the purpose of communication?
Helen Lam Hung-ting, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College
Tutoring can helpAcademic qualifications are key to a promising position in present-day society. To acquire these qualifications, achieving excellent examination results is the only way.
Exam pressure is exceptionally high in Hong Kong. To alleviate  this pressure, students are enthusiastic about attending tutorial classes.
Yet is it really desirable for students to take extra lessons?  School schedules are very tight, so teachers and students hardly have time for questions.
This means students find it very difficult to assimilate vital concepts.
However, tutorial classes offer  flexible schedules. And if students have any queries, they  can reach their tutors through various means,  including by phone  or MSN.
Moreover, tutorials provide tailor-made materials and fully equip students with examination skills.
Also, these education centres use hi-tech methods, which enable students to grasp knowledge more efficiently.
But there are limitations; the fees are high and the curriculum is  almost the same as in mainstream schools.
Mok kwan-kit, Sing Yin Secondary School



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