“I've changed my mind.I wanted to have a telescope，but now I want my dad back.” Lucien Lawrence's letter to his father for Christmas written after his father had been knifed to death outside his school gate，must have touched everyone's heart.Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn't see the stars in the sky.When those whom we love depart from us，we cannot see the stars for a while.

But Lucien，the stars are still there，and one day，when you are older and your tears have gone，you will see them again.And，in a strange way，I expect that you will find your father there，too，in your mind and heart.I find that my parents，who died years ago，still figure in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive.I still live to please them and I'm still surprised by their reactions.I remember that when I became a professor，I was so proud，or rather so pleased with myself that I couldn't wait to cable my parents.The reply was a long time in coming，but when it did，all my mother said was “I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children！” I haven't forgotten.The values of my parents still live on.

It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care.Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence have been to face the aggressors，and to lay down my life for those in my care？How many people would want me back for Christmas？It's a serious thought，one to give me pause.

I pray silently，sometimes，in the dead of night，that ancient cry of a poet “Deliver my soul from the sword，and my darling from the power of the dog.” Yet I know the death comes to us all，and sometimes comes suddenly.We must therefore plan to live forever，but live as if we will die tomorrow.We live on，I'm sure，in the lives of those we love，and therefore we ought to have a care for what they will remember and what they will treasure.If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true，there might be fewer knives on our streets today.

Men can be beautiful too ， right?

Chinais going to host the 18th World University Student  Beauty Contest in Guangzhou thisDecember.This year for the  first timethe contest will include a male section.Students  from over 130 countries will compete for Mrand Miss Beauty.The contest is one of the most respected beauty contests in theworld.It was copied by the United Nations University (an internationaluniversity belonging to the United Nations) in 1986.

Stick to studying

LiYining，aneconomics professor at Peking University，saidthat he would not encourage students to try their luck in the stock market (股市)．“Theyshould stress study，”Li said in his speech at Beijing Foreign Studies University.When asked，the professor said he expected houseprices in Beijing to continue to rise.Li thinks the government should providemore affordable houses for low­level income people.

Campus cinema

Studentsat over 100 universities will have a digital cinema on campus after theNational Day holiday.The 21st Century Digital Film on Campus Project was launchedat the end of September.The ticket will cost 3－8yuan ， ratherthan 30－40yuan at cinemas in town.Studentsoften download movies online or watch DVDs.Now they can  enjoy original films in the digitalcinema.The digital cinema will show a variety of  films besides Hollywood blockbusters  (好莱坞大片)．

Getting practical

All12,000 graduates from vocational school in Shanxi Province have landed a job，according to the provincialgovernment.In the past five years，itis estimated that over 95 percent of the professional school graduates havefound jobs.However，thenumber for university graduates is 70 percent.Some employers said that theyprefer professional school graduates who learned something more practical inschool and expected lower salaries than university students.

        A Thanksgiving Day story in the newspaper told of a school teacher who asked herclass of first graders to draw a picture of something they were thankful for.She thought of how little these children from poor neighborhood {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(actual)had to be thankful for. But she knew that most of them would draw pictures ofturkeys or tables full {#blank#}2{#/blank#} food. The teacher was surprised with the pictureDouglas handed in—a small childishly hand!

     But whose hand? The class was {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(puzzle) by the abstract drawing.“I think it mustbe the hand of God {#blank#}4{#/blank#} brings us food，”said one child.“A farmer，”said another，“becausehe {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(feed) the turkeys.” Finally, when the others were at work, the teacher{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (bend)over at Douglas' desk and asked whose hand it was. “It's your hand，Teacher，”he said in a low voice.

Sheremembered that frequently at break she had taken Douglas, a small lonelychild, by {#blank#}7{#/blank#} hand. She often did that with the {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(child). But it meant somuch to Douglas. Perhaps this was everyone's Thanks­giving，not for the material things {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(give)to us but for the chance，inwhatever small way, {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(give) to others.