Steve Jobs was famous for starting Apple Computers. In a speech to graduating students at Stanford University, Jobs told students about some of life-changing experiences. Jobs believed these experiences helped him achieve success.

Job's biological mother was a college student. As a young mother, she felt unable to bring Jobs up so she put him up for adoption. Job's adopted parents were simple working-class people. When Jobs was 17, his parents used their saving to send him to college.

After six months of college, Jobs decided it was not for him. Around that time, he had read a quotation that went something like,“If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.”The quotation made him think about his life and his future. He started to question if he should stay in college. Was he doing what he really wanted to do? Eventually, he decided he had to change something; he decided to drop out of college.

Jobs was lucky because he knew what he loved to do. He started Apple Computers in his parents' garage with a friend when he was 20. In just ten years, Apple grew into a $2 billion company. However in 1985, Jobs was fired from the company.

Jobs was shocked. He lost everything at once. He quickly realized that he still loved what he did, and over the next five years, he started two highly successful companies. next and Pixar. Jobs also met his future wife, Laurence. Jobs was happily married with a family, working for Apple again and living every day as if it were his last.

    Some students, parents and teachers in Shanghai were surveyed last month. According to the result of the survey, the generation gap (代沟) between students and parents as well as teachers is becoming wider. Here is what they said.

     Voice of the students:

         “Our parents hold too high expectations（期待）which put us under lots of pressure（压力. They care too much about our lives and studies,” one student said.

    “It's impolite that some students' parents read their children's diaries without permission!”one student said angrily.

    “Some of our teachers are so serious that we can't make friends with them at all,” another student said sadly.

    Voice of the parents:

    One mother said, “After school, my daughter usually locks herself into her room and spends lots of time talking with others on the phone. And I can't stand her clothes and hairstyle!”

    “I thought my son was doing very well in his studies. I didn't realize I was being cheated (欺骗)by him until I got a call from his teacher,” said a father.

    Voice of the teachers:

    An English teacher said, “Today, the role of the teacher is to put knowledge into students' brain. The power teachers have kept students away from them.”

    “Some parents pay too much attention to their children's grades. They never create a lively and colorful environment at home,” another teacher said.

    “In the past, teachers and students often played games together or talked with each other. Today, only studies and grades are talked about,” said a teacher.

    Voice of scientists:

    Scientists say that a school should be a place where students can learn not only knowledge, but also how to face failure bravely enough.

    A little stream(小溪) ran down from a high mountain through many villages and forests. Then it reached a desert." I went through so many difficulties. I should have no problem crossing the desert," she thought. As she started, she found herself slowly vanishing(消失)into the sand. After many tries, she still failed." Maybe I can't reach the ocean," she said sadly to herself. At this time, a deep voice said," If wind can cross the desert, so can a river." It was the voice of the desert. But the little stream answered," That's because the wind can fly, but I can not."

   "That's because you can't give up what you are.  Let yourself evaporate(蒸发)into the wind and it can take you across me," said the desert." Give up what I am now? No! No!" The little stream could not accept this idea." The wind can carry the vapor(蒸汽)across the desert and let it leave as rain. The rain will form a river again," said the desert. "And whether you're a river or vapor, your nature never changes." After hearing this, the little stream went into the open arms of the wind. It carried her to the next stage of her life.

    The course of our lives is like the experience of the little stream. If you want to go through difficulties in your life to head for success, you should also change the way you are.

Dear Jack,

    How are you? How was your weekend?

    I had a great weekend. My mother taught me to make noodles. We made delicious noodles together. I cleaned my room and washed my clothes. I also helped my father wash his car. I went to the library on Sunday with my friend Jerry. We had a good time in the library.

    Next weekend, I'm going to visit my grandparents. They live in a village. It's two hours away from my house. We are going to take a bus there. My grandparents like eating fruit. So I will bring them some apples and bananas. I'm going to climb a mountain with my cousin Tom. It will be fun. The English test is coming. So I'm going to study for the test.

    Did you have a good weekend? What are you going to do next weekend?

Write back soon.

Susan

    Making the most of time is important in our life. Here are some tips that might be of help to you.

    Make a plan. You should make a plan every week. The plan includes things you want to finish. You should know what the most important ones are, and try your best to do them first.

    ⒈Control your stress. No matter what kind of stress you have, try to keep cool. When you have a lot of things to do, too much stress may make you slow. Don't work all day without breaks.

    ⒉Close your door. When working under a plan, do your important things with your door closed. This will give you a better-quality time.

    ⒊Focus on one thing at a time. Don't try to do many things at a time! You will lose your focus, and it will take you longer to finish your work.

    ⒋Just say "no". If you really don't have the time to help out, just say "no". You're only one person, and you can't save the world by yourself!

    ⒌Stop wasting time on the phone. While talking on the phone, keep your conversations short. In this way, you'll waste much less time.

    ⒍Relax. The most important thing is to take time to relax. Even if it's a 10-minute walk, get away from your work and get relaxed.