Wrong Reasons for Going to College

    A college education can be priceless.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If any of these following factors had abig influence on your decision, you're probably right to second-guess yourself.

   Because all your friends are going.

    In only a few weeks' time, the whole friend group will be scattered to a half dozen different colleges in a half dozen different places. Not to go will set yourself apart.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Because someone else expects it from you.

    Perhaps you come from a family where everyone goes to college,or maybe you're the kid that everyone is proud to believe will be the first toget there.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}It's become so mucha part of the air you breathe that you've never stopped to consider whether you want to go or whether you're ready to go.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}It's beentough to find even a summer job. You don't have an alternative plan. Everyone else is doing it (see above). You think you might as well go to school. That isthe lamest（无说服力的）of reasons tospend $ 20,000 or more in the next year.

    Because you are afraid you'll regret it if you don't go.

    Your uncle tells you that he regrets that he didn't go tocollege. Others tell you they could have gone so much further in their career if only they had a college education.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#} So this is not a persuasive reason for you togo to college.

a. A. Because you don't want to work.

b. Friends will wonder what's wrong with you.

c. Because you don't know what else to do.

d. Everyone seems more excited than you are.

e. It seems that for years everyone has just thought that ofcourse you'll go.

f. Whatever the story is, there are always people who regretdecisions they've made.

g. But maybe in your heart you know that you are going forthe wrong reasons.

    Too many of us are waiting too long to live our best lives. We keep putting everything off until tomorrow. Then, before we know it, we find ourselves asking, "How did it get so late so soon?"

    So we'd better make today the beginning of our new life. Take time to realize what we want and need. Take time to love, laugh, cry, and learn. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are five things we should start doing today:

    Accept ourselves. The secret to happiness and success is the acceptance of ourselves. We will never become who we want to be if we rely on everyone else to qualify us.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} So always go with ourselves, never against ourselves. Be who we were created to be and we will set the world on fire.

    Make ourselves a priority. To tell the truth, there are only a few people in this world who will stay 100% true to us, so we should stay true to ourselves. Put our own needs into the list of things to do.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Don't sit back and let things happen to us. Go out and make things happen. We are what we do, not what we say we'll do. Stop saying "I wish" and start saying "I will". Turn our dreams into plans.

    Do the work. We can't underestimate(低估) a person who always works hard. Be that person.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Always remember that the task ahead of us is never greater than the strength within us. Do what's right, not what's easy. Our dreams are worth it.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} We can't force things to happen; we can only drive ourselves trying crazily. There's a time and place for everything. So don't force what's not yet supposed to fit into our life. When it's meant to be, it will be. Work hard, and be patient.

A. Take positive action.

B. Enjoy every moment of life.

C. Life is shorter than it often seems.

D. Everyone has a different way of life.

E. Accept ourselves just the way we are.

F. Allow life to happen like it's supposed to.

G. In life, we don't get what we wish for; we get what we work for.

    Everyone wants to perform well at school. Add these tips to your life and you should be on your way to being a top student!

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}I cannot stress how important it is to pay attention to what your teacher is teaching you. Take part in class discussions if you have something worth adding. Pay attention during class, especially during lectures.

    Taking notes is important. You don't need to write down every single word your teacher says but write down what he or she writes on the board, or any special fact you think you might need for a test.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}In this way, it will help you learn more effectively by actually thinking about what you are writing.

    Don't skip school. You will be missing some knowledge. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}However, you will have more work. Also, try not to be late for class. It's most likely that your teacher won't appreciate it and you will get yourself behind.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you have an “I don't care about school or this class” attitude, then teachers will be less willing to help you with problems or offer you extra credit(学分). The same goes for lazy attitude. Have a respectful attitude to the teacher and other students. Try not to laugh when other students make mistakes.

    Always ask questions. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}If you don't understand, ask someone. Read your textbook and notes, and then if that fails, seek help. Ask a teacher, friend, classmate, parent, etc. Get a tutor(家教) if you need one.

A. Be prepared.

B. Write in your own words.

C. Pay attention to everything the teacher says.

D. Staying organized will be helpful.

E. There is no shame in needing some help.

F. It is true that you could make up the work.

G. Keep a good attitude towards things.

    How can teenagers keep themselves from suffering from loneliness? Here are some suggestions for speeding a recovery from loneliness.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} A smile and a friendly greeting for the student behind you in line at the cafeteria(餐厅) won't make you best friends. But it will make you both feel good. It also can make it easier to interact the next time, and the time after that.

    Find a safe place to make connections. If going to the dancing party makes you feel like you just don't belong, try joining a special-interest group. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Just because you feel left out in one group doesn't mean you'll feel like an outsider in every other one. Look for a group that allows you to feel comfortable gradually.

    Find other ways of making connections. Lonely people hunger for friendship. Sometimes feeling accepted and liked comes more easily when you do something for others rather than waiting for them to make you feel better. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Help a child in rending. Take notes for a disabled classmate. You might be surprised at the connections you make.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Loneliness is an absence of quality friendship, not of a particular quantity of friends. That's why it's important to know how to select a friend.

    You get what you expect, so expect the best. If you expect others to be friendly, you will behave in proper ways that encourage people to be friendlier to you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But starting the first step of positive expectations can make all the difference.

A. Choose the right people.

B. Loneliness won't last long.

C. So consider becoming a volunteer.

D. Reach out to others but start small.

E. It can be hard work to be positive toward others.

F. Maybe it's the drama club or the marching band.

G. This harmful attitude can continue into adulthood.

    The key to dealing with test-day jitters（焦躁）is through preparation! {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is important to prepare your mind and body before the test for the experience of working under pressure.

    Get some sleep.

    I know you've heard this before, but it's often repeated because it's so important. Get plenty of sleep the night before the test! If you don't have enough rest, you'll end up with less concentration. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Leave early.

    Be sure to leave earlier than normal on the day of a test to avoid the added fear of arriving late. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The embarrassment will cause you to be distracted and lose valuable time.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Once you arrive at school or at the testing center, find a quiet space where you can be all alone. You can use your car if you drive, or you can find an empty locker room or office (ask a teacher). Once you locate a cozy nest in a quiet place, do a relaxation session (=period). Close your eyes and try to relax completely. Take deep breaths and remain calm.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    It's possible that some students start to stress out as other students discuss the material. When you hear others chatting, it might sound like you ignored something important or you misunderstood a concept (概念). It's probably not even true—but it can seem like it!

A. Take a quiet moment.

B. A sleepy brain is a foggy brain.

C. Watch out for chatting with others after a test.

D. Attending an exam late is the last thing you need.

E. You can find time to eat some snacks during a break.

F. Don't talk with other students in the minutes before a test.

G. But full preparation means more than knowing the test material.

    We all have plans to achieve success in life, but what we are lacking is the motivation that keeps us going to put plans into action. Here are the ways that can effectively ease the problem.
    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Just grab a book, especially an inspirational book or a book of success stories. You can learn from others and the story will motivate you to move ahead with your plans. It also makes you re-focus your energy on your goals rather than the problems at hand.

    Think of your purpose.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Your purpose could be to improve the life of others, or help people to do things more efficiently. Thinking of your purpose is an important way to motivate you.

    Talk to a supportive friend.

    Talking to a supportive friend would be able to overcome the problem of lacking motivation. Find someone that you are comfortable with and share your problems with him. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Go through your goals daily.

    Prepare a list of goals that you want to achieve and go through your goals at least once a day. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} By doing this, you refresh your mind with the goals you have set for yourself.

    Do it at once.

    Another way is to get started with what you need to do. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But by forcing yourself to just do it, you'll probably make progress little by little and without realizing it, you have actually finished the task on hand.

A. Read a book.

B.  See a motivational film.

C. You should have plans to achieve success.

D. After it, you will feel recharged and re-energized.

E. Think of why you want to achieve what you want.

F. Sometimes you don't feel like doing what you want to do.

G. You need to do this even more if you feel down and have no motivation.