bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Extra-curricular activities for all
Some students complain they are forced to take part in extra-curricular activities. But this is usually privileged children.
Many less privileged youngsters long to take part in after-school activities, but cannot afford it.
I believe these students should receive subsidies to enable them to participate.
Without extra-curricular activities, young people  cannot have a well rounded upbringing.
These activities not only help students relax, they help develop other skills, such as leadership and co-operation.
Also, when they do not take part in extra-curricular activities, young people may miss out on the opportunity to discover their non-academic talent.
Extra-curricular activities introduce students to enjoyable pastimes such as sport and music.
To allow all students equal access to extra-curricular activities, subsidising low-income families is a must.
Agnes Yeung, CCC Heep Woh College
Making the choice  to be happy
Happiness is a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction. It is usually something we feel when we are not worried or afraid of anything, and when we do things we love to do.
It's not something that happens to us. We make it happen.
Daily life can be made happier. It is a matter of choice. It is our attitude that makes us feel happy or unhappy.
We are faced with all kinds of situations during the day, and some of them may make it difficult for us to be happy.
But it's up to us whether we focus on the unhappy events or relish the happy moments.
For most people happiness seems fleeting, because they  let changing circumstances affect them.
One of the best ways to remain happy is to get inner peace through daily meditation. As the mind becomes more peaceful, we are more likely to be happy.
If we let what's going on influence our moods, we become slaves. We lose our freedom. We should not let our happiness be determined by external factors.
We can free ourselves from outer influences. We can choose to be happy, and we can do a lot to add happiness to our lives.
Shoaib, California School
Actions speak louder than words
Every Sunday I have to give my grandmother a bath as our domestic helper takes the day off from work.
My granny is old and she's got a bad knee, and it is hard for her to walk and bend. So she needs help when she takes a bath.
I usually help her get into the tub, scrub her back and help her put on her clothes. She rarely speaks but the smile on her face shows me her appreciation.
I think it's taught me that sometimes actions mean more than words, and that we should respect our elders through acts of love.
Dorcas, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School
Work together for consumers' health
The cases of illegal additives in food over recent years have been very disturbing. Food safety is an important issue for everybody.
In my opinion, citizens do not have enough access to information about the safety of the food we eat.
Perhaps it is because industry regulators lack manpower and capital.
Despite safety checks, contaminated food is still being sold in markets. I think the answer is some kind of collaboration between the government, food producers and food retailers. All three should put the health of consumers first.
Tiffany Wong, Yan Oi Tang Tin Ka Ping Secondary School
There's more to life than a job
I think there's more to life  than work.
A good job is not essential, but we should try to do a good job in whatever we do.
If you regard a good job as the most important thing in your life, you have to put family and friends second.
If you are neglecting the people that should be most important to you in your life because of your job, I think something is wrong.
Of course, a good job means a stable income and a good material quality of life.
But what if there is no  one to share the happiness  with you?
Simply dedicating yourself to work and ending up with poor health, a lot of money and a big house to me is sad.
A good job is not everything, and there are many things waiting for us to treasure - particularly your loved ones.
So Lai, Hung Our Lady of the Rosary College
The importance of good manners
To give other people a good impression, we need to act in a civilised and polite way.
It is very difficult to deal  with people who have no manners or have no consideration for others.
'Good manners' might sound like an old-fashioned idea. But we all have the responsibility to treat others with respect, and that's what manners are about.
If you don't know about etiquette, try reading around for more ideas. There are many etiquette books available.
Some community colleges offer weekend lessons in etiquette and most are open to all ages.
Taking a class is a great idea for teens, professionals or anyone looking to make a better impression in society.
If you would rather learn from real-world examples, then watch how people who are popular get things done in society.
Shoaib Hussain, California School



letters