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SCMP Reporter

Appreciate our education system
Our education system is very good. Since most of us were born here, we may not appreciate how lucky we are compared to some other places.
In many developing nations, children are forced to give up school because their families cannot afford basics like stationery.
Most of us only have to worry about studying hard enough to pass our exams.
Some underprivileged children in Hong Kong may have to work to support their families.
We may think this is pitiful but I think we should learn to appreciate how fortunate we are to be able to go to school.
Many local students complain about how much homework they have or not having all the things they want.
Perhaps if they thought about how lucky they are to have so many opportunities they would be happier.
Don't take anything for granted; appreciate all that you have.
Fabiola Wong, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School
I am so proud  to be Chinese
Hongkongers are proud to be Chinese these days. Personally, I love the mainland and call it our motherland.
During the past decade, China has developed rapidly, becoming one of the world's most powerful economies and now a leader in the space race.
I also think the mainland has changed in positive ways. One of the recent successes in communicating with the world was, of course, the Beijing Olympics.
I think the most impressive part was the opening ceremony. It surprised people all over the world and made Hongkongers feel a real sense of belonging to the mainland.
The Chinese athletes' success made me so proud to be Chinese.
However, there have also been some recent scandals. The discovery of melamine-tainted milk and other substandard food products put China on the front page of newspapers around the world for the wrong reasons.
Before the media reported the melamine scandal, some government departments   tried to keep the news from the public.
Though the scandal was handled badly, the central government has now taken action to solve the problem.
These are just some reasons why I love my motherland so much.
Winson Yung Kit-fan, Christian Alliance S. C. Chan  Memorial Collage
Don't look back, think of the future
I recently read a book called Message in a Bottle. The book inspired me with its message of looking to the future and trying not to dwell on the past.
The main character is a man called Garrett Blake who writes letters to his wife and sends them out to sea rolled up in a bottle.
Eventually, a woman reads one of the letters and sets off to meet Garrett.
The story made me think we should not worry about what lies ahead, but look towards the future.
Likewise, it is wrong to spend too much time thinking about the past.  Being pessimistic never helps, so look towards a bright future instead.
Crystal Chan, Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School
Country living is  so much nicer
Fresh air, blue skies and green grass are fantastic, which is why I prefer the country to the city.
There is so much space to play. In the city, most kids are glued to their PSPs. They are too lazy to move around.
I enjoy the peaceful  countryside instead of the hustle and bustle of the city. Also, the pollution problems in cities are so serious, it makes people sick.
You may think  no cinemas, malls or trendy restaurants would make life in the country boring, but I disagree.
Of course, there are some problems living there, too, like there are no big supermarkets nearby. But I really love a peaceful place to study.
Jessie Li
Staying close to your family is important
Recently, I have been thinking about relationships and family gatherings.
My father's family is large and consists of 10 sons and daughters. Recently, I had the chance to meet all of them.
It was a very special day for me. It is so rare to meet them all at the same time. We all get together only during the Lunar New Year.
They always give me good advice.
More importantly, it is always good to listen to their advice. I am a Form Six student. I am now preparing for university entry.
I am looking at programmes that I am interested in, and, of course, setting some targets according to the entry requirements.
However, in their opinion, a good result or even a degree should not be our ultimate goal.
Though it is not the same as my idea, it has helped broaden my scope of thinking.
It made me realise that there are some people who do not do well in their studies, but they still manage to make a very good living.
It was an inspiring Sunday for me.
They taught me that even if my result is not that good, it does not mean it is the end of the world.
Besides, I realised that the suggestions from my uncles and aunts are quite useful and touching.
They shared their real-life experiences with me in order to make me less worried.
I wanted to share these views with the readers of Young Post.
I hope the suggestions will be useful to them in the future.
Anthony Kwan, Hang Seng School of Commerce



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