"So, what do you want to do after graduation?"{#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, you have to make up your mind as your last high school year begins. Whether your plans include college, heading straight for the workforce, or taking a year off, here are some practical tips to prepare yourself for the journey.

Going to College

    Some people know from an early age exactly what they want to be and how they plan to get there. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} According to a recent survey, 75% of students change their majors after they enter college. After all, school is also not just about careers and getting a high-paying job after graduation -- it's a place for learning about yourself and the world.

    Selecting a School

    If college is in your future, you need to plan. Start by asking yourself questions about your preferences. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Once you've narrowed down your choices, ask the schools to send you literature or visit their websites.

Getting a Job

    Maybe you've decided that college isn't for you -- right now, anyway. If you want to join the workforce, opportunities are out there for people who don't have degrees. Some products-selling or service industry organizations offer training programs to high school graduates. Search the classified ads in the newspaper and do some Internet research.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Taking Time Off

    What if you intend to go to college but just don't feel ready to start yet, for whatever reason? {#blank#}5{#/blank#}This practice is common in some countries, like the United Kingdom, where it's called a "gap year". Even if you decide not to apply to college, it can be a great idea to take a year to do something you may not have an opportunity to do again. Lots of volunteer organizations would welcome your time and energy and would provide you with a wonderful learning experience.

A. You might want to get a high-paid job first.

B. Many juniors and seniors get bored answering that question over and over.

C. You might want to take a year off to pause.

D.  This is the fact that young people have to take into consideration.

E. Ask friends in college about their schools and other schools they're familiar with.

F. Most large companies list their job openings on their websites.

G. Not all of us are so sure of our plans, though, and that's OK too.

    I was lucky to serve as an RA（宿舍协管员）for two years at Manhattanville College, which has students from more than 50 countries. I talked with a lot of students who had trouble living in a dorm room.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Make your room as YOU as possible.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's your HOME. Show your style. Put up the posters your mom never let you put up at home. Do whatever you can to make your room a comfortable place so you'll feel right at home.

    A clean room is a happy room. Cleanliness is important whether you share a room with one person or seven.   {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Thus, your room will be always clean.

    Snack time is the best time. Some colleges have dining 24 hours a day, while others offer no food after midnight. Have snacks on hand because you'll get hungry during those late-night homework adventures. Try healthy snacks such as fruit and yogurt.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}And remember the Freshman 15 doesn't apply only to freshman.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}The key to getting along well with others is communication. If there's a problem, ALWAYS talk it out with your roommate first. If you still have problems after talking, turn to your RA for help.

A. Be open to differences.

B. Don't shout. Talk it out!

C. Here are some survival tips I want to share.

D. It's unfair for only one to clean up all the time.

E. But watch out for Freshman 15—gaining 15 pounds!

F. Make a schedule that can be followed by everyone.

G. Your dorm room isn't just where you sleep or study.

Eight Things That Lead to Success

    "What leads to success?" This may be a question asked by those who want to make something of their life. For seven years, Richard. John made 500 interviews. Here he wants to tell you what really leads to success.

    And the first thing is passion.

    Freeman Thomas says, "I'm driven by my passion." TED-sters do it for love; they don't do it for money. Carol Coletta says, "I would pay someone to do what I do." {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Work

    Rupert Murdoch said to me, "It's all hard work. Nothing comes easily. But I have a lot of fun." Did he say fun? Rupert? Yes! {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I figure, they're not workaholics. They're workafrolics（醉心工作者）.

    Good!

    Alex Garden says, "To be successful put your nose down in something and get damn good at it"

    There's no magic; it's practice, practice, practice.

    And it's focus.

    Norman Jewison said to me, "I think it all has to do with focusing yourself on one thing."

    And push!

    David Gallo says, "Push yourself. Physically, mentally, you've got to push, push, push. You gotta push through shyness and self-doubt." Goldie Hawn says, "I always had self-doubts. I wasn't good enough; I wasn't smart enough. I didn't think

    I'd make it." {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (Laughter) Frank Gehry said to me," My mother pushed me."

    Serve!

    Sherwin Nuland says, "It was a privilege to serve as a doctor."{#blank#}4{#/blank#} And the first thing I say to them is: "OK, well you can't serve yourself; you gotta serve others something of value. Because that's the way people really get rich."

    Ideas!

    TE D-ster Bill Gates says, "I had an idea: founding the first microcomputer software company." I'd say it was a pretty good idea. And there's no magic to creativity in coming up with ideas- it's just doing some very simple things. And I give lots of evidence.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Joe Kraus says, "Persistence is the number one reason for our success." You got to persist through failure. You got to persist through CRAP! Which of course means "Criticism, Rejection, Assholes and Pressure." (Laughter)

A. So why don't I ask them what helped them succeed, and pass it on to kids?

B. And the interesting thing is: If you do it for love, the money comes anyway.

C. Now a lot of kids tell they want to be millionaires.

D. LED-sters do have fun working. And they work hard.

E. Persist!

F. Investing their money in pursuing a future lifestyle rather than in an academic conquest.

G. Now it's not always easy to push yourself, and that's why they invented mothers.

    Someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer every three minutes. And although about three in ten blood cancer patients can find a matching donor in their families, 70 percent of patients depend on a stranger to step in. That was enough for me to know I wanted to help.

    I registered online with Delete Blood Cancer. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Four years later I got an e-mail from the organization and it said I had a possible match. To make sure all systems were a go, I had a couple of extra blood tests. I needed to donate bone marrow (骨髓).{#blank#}2{#/blank#}And my bone-marrow recipient was a little girl.

    Four months later, donation day arrived. At 9 a.m., the procedure started. By noon, I was already on my way home from the hospital. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}My legs were sore, like I had bruised my bone or something. The doctors said the pain would gradually disappear a few days later.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The discomfort was secondary to the emotional high of helping a little girl with cancer. To me, it doesn't matter that I've never met the girl who received my bone marrow or that I don't even know her name. I still feel like I have such a powerful connection with her.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    A year later, I haven't heard how my bone-marrow recipient is doing, Delete Blood Cancer hasn't come back to me asking for another bone marrow donation, so I hope that's a good sign. But if they do call me back, whether it's for her or someone else, I'd do it again.

A. I won't lie—for a while, I was in pain.

B. I immediately broke down into tears on the phone.

C. There's something in our DNA that brought us together.

D. That's most often the case with young blood-cancer patients.

E. Even though the doctors gave me painkillers, I didn't try any.

F. I met with all of the doctors who would be performing the procedure.

G. Then my DNA was collected to see if I was a match for any patients in need.

    The “best years of your life”? Maybe not, but you can learn to make the most of your high school days.

    Learn to appreciate small things. Whether it's having a computer, having friends, having a good supply of food, a bed to sleep on, family that loves you, having a good education or simply being born in this world.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Be happy, and life will reward you. Remember that these are the last few years you will be able to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the responsibility of an adult, but make sure you prepare yourself for when you do become one.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Unlike what many articles state, you don't have to be popular and have many friends to be happy. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Try to have friends that like you who you are, not just because you are wearing a certain brand of shoes or something like that. These are people who shop at the same store as you; not someone who will sympathize with you when your dog dies.

    Be sociable.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} While you only need 4 or 5 close friends, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to meet new people. Participating gives you something to do instead of sitting bored at home.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Video games, for example, are good if you're the type who can get into that kind of thing. You should also find a hobby that is meaningful or practical. Use your “hobby time” to either volunteer (to gain practical skills for college apps, job resumes, and scholarships) or learn an instrument, or get into something else in the creative field like painting or dance.

A. You can pursue interests you enjoy.

B. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

C. Choose your friends wisely.

D. Participating in clubs, activities, and sports increases your chances of meeting new friends.

E. In fact, many of the “friends” you have when you are popular are not true friends.

F. Being confident in your appearance makes you more confident in other areas.

G. Remember that the point of life is for you to enjoy it.

    It's sometimes hard to understand a teenager. It's even harder if a teenager doesn't agree with you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Listen to what the teenager has to say. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} While you may not entirely agree with what he's saying, the tension will be lessened if the teenager feels like you are listening and trying to understand him. Also, he might return the favor and give you the chance to talk as well. It's best to have a conversation where both of your opinions matter rather than fight and possibly hurt each other in the process.

    Understand that while teenager may appear grown up and perhaps even sound matured, his mind has not fully developed, and he cannot think like an adult all the time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, this doesn't mean you're completely right or he deserves to be ridiculed or treated like a child.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, remember that the teenager should understand when "no" is "no". Avoid bringing up a compromise every time you disagree on something. This might teach him that he can always get away with what he wants, whenever he wants it.

    If the conversation launches into an argument, stop it. Tell him that you both need to calm down and think clearly or the problem will never be solved. If he refuses to listen and continues arguing, step out of the room and allow time for both of you to settle down. Do not scold him or shout back. Your words will possibly be lost on the teenager since you both are too angry to listen to each other. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. He still needs to learn, and he doesn't know everything.

B. Avoid having a bad tone, including accusations in your words.

C. Find the good points the teenager has and mention the negative points too.

D. This article tells you how to disagree with a teenager in a kind manner.

E. People like being listened to, so give him the chance to express his opinion.

F. Come up with a compromise if the situation allows one.

G. Bring up the topic after a while and make sure you listen to each other patiently.