Making choices for a more rewarding life Sometimes in life we find ourselves looking back and wondering, 'How did I get here? What choices did I make to end up in this position?' When we really consider these questions we sometimes discover we didn't make any choices at all. We just let life happen, or let other people make choices for us. The result of the accumulated choices we didn't make is a life we never wanted. What can be done about this? The first step is to start making conscious decisions about what you do with your time. Are the activities that make up your day bringing you closer to achieving your goals and dreams? If not, then it's time to start making choices that lead to a more rewarding life. Vijay Varma, California School Our studies don't end at graduation Some people seem to think as soon as they have graduated and have a job, their studies are over. But the fact is we never stop learning. From the moment we are born, we have to deal with hurdles. We have to learn to walk, to talk, to read and write, and that leads to yet more hurdles - examinations and competitions. There is no end to the study we have to do in life, and wherever we go there is new knowledge to be acquired and competition from other people. When we graduate and enter the workforce, we should look at it as just a new course of study. Eunice Cheung, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College A proud moment With the Olympics playing out in Beijing, this is a very proud moment for the 1.3 billion people of China. This is China's opportunity to show the world it is not only an ancient civilisation but also a global sporting power, winning the world's respect. I'm confident by holding the games in China it is possible to bring the people of the world closer together, and I sincerely hope the Games are a success from start to finish. Chong Siu-hung, Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School Make learning Putonghua a priority With China's economy continuing to boom, it is likely many of Hong Kong's teenagers today will relocate to the mainland to work in the future. This makes learning Putonghua a priority, but how can Hong Kong teenagers best develop their Putonghua skills? Many Hong Kong secondary schools already offer courses in Putonghua, making it easier for some teenagers, but there are also many private schools that provide courses. Let's also not forget that practice makes perfect. Teenagers need to be encouraged to speak the language. Most are too shy to speak Putonghua, fearing someone might laugh at them for mispronouncing words. But everyone knows Putonghua is not Hong Kong's mother tongue. We have to learn it as a foreign language in the same way we learn English. Putonghua is becoming an increasingly important language, and I think Hong Kong teens should be working harder at learning it. Kerwin So, SKH Li Fook Hing Secondary School Inspired by straight-A success I am writing in response to the August 5 Young Post article, 'Sweet smiles of success'. I am inspired by the efforts of students who got straight As in the HKCEE, and I think we can all learn something from their studying spirit and hard work. I was shocked to learn one student studied for 14 hours a day for the examination, and it made me realise just how difficult it is to be a straight-A student. What struck me most when I was reading the article was straight As is not simply a dream, but something that can be achieved through time, effort and perseverance. I will be a Form Four student next year and I plan to work hard in the spirit of those recent straight-A graduates. Fung Sin-ying Pets should be for life Too many people, in my opinion, thoughtlessly buy pets, and then end up abandoning them. Think before bringing a pet into your life. Are you willing to keep it for life? Can you afford to look after a pet? Are you the kind of person who is responsible enough to have a pet, or are you likely to abandon it later because it has become too troublesome? Animals may not be as smart as we are, but they have feelings, and people should think about how they would feel if they were abandoned or left on a tiny balcony all day with no food and water. I would like to ask potential pet owners to think especially hard about whether they are acquiring a companion for life. If they are not sure, they should pass up on being a pet owner. Dominic Au-Yeung, Independent Schools Foundation Academy Spell 'family' and learn about love When I was very small, one of my friends taught me to memorise the spelling for 'family' by thinking of it as standing for 'father and mother, I love you'. At the time, I simply saw it as a useful way to remember the spelling of a word, but recently I realised it was also a message about how important love is for a family. For me, love is about showing you care, and it is not a difficult thing to do. When your father comes home from a long day of work, you could fetch him a cup of tea. Or perhaps you could lend your mother a sympathetic ear when she complains about the price of vegetables and meat. Give love and it will come back to you. Tang Tsz-lui