My mother was a cleaner in our school canteen(食堂) when I was in the middle school. At that time she was such an embarrassment(难堪) to me not only because of her job but also her look. She had only one eye. Every time I saw her in my school, I pretended(假装) not to see her and ran away.

 After graduating, I got a good job in another city. Then I got married and had two kids. I told my family that my parents had been dead, so they never saw my mother, even her photo. But one year later, I got a letter, it read:

 My dear son Jeff,

    I'm sorry to disturb(打扰) you, but I really miss you all the time. I'm afraid that I will have no chance to see you again.

    I'm sorry that I was always an embarrassment to you when you were growing up. However, I had no choice. When you were very young, you got into an accident and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand that you would have to grow up with one eye. So I ……

    I was proud of my son who was enjoying his beautiful world for me with that eye.

    With all my love to you!

                                                              Mom

 After reading the letter, I couldn't help crying.

    A new research on students' sleeping habits says that more than 70% of students do not get enough sleep.

    Researchers found that primary school students get 9 hours and 10 minutes of sleep a night, junior high school students get 8 hours and 6 minutes, and senior high school students get 7 hours and 9 minutes. None of those hours are enough for each group. Not enough sleep can cause many kinds of problems in children and teenagers.

    In 2007, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission asked primary and middle schools in the city to adjust their timetables so that students could get more sleep. Two years later, a research found that students at schools that adjusted their timetables got more sleep than in 2005.

    The researchers hope that the government will take measures to make students have enough sleep. Students in other places may even less sleep than those in Shanghai.

    “I've always had a pretty clear idea of what I want to do.” says Mary, a middle school student who wants to become a director some day. You may not be as sure of your career (职业) as Mary. But you can start thinking about and planning for your future career.

    The following article helps middle school students plan for careers.

    Explore (探索) your interests

    Many middle school students don't yet know what they want to do. But in fact, students may change their minds several times, perhaps even after they enter society. And some of tomorrow's careers might not exist (存在) today. Focusing on just one job in middle school isn't necessary. But looking into the kinds of careers you might like can help you succeed.

    ①          

    Understanding what you enjoy and what you're good at is the most important step in exploring careers. If you don't know what you want to do, you should ask yourself what you like to learn about. If you really like science, what do you enjoy about it — the lab work or the research? It's important to think about what you like to do, because work will finally be a big part of your life.

Discover possible careers

    Once you've thought about the subjects and activities you like best, the next step is to look for careers that put those interests to use. If you love sports, for example, you might consider a career as a P.E. teacher or a soccer coach. If you like English, a career as an English teacher, a translator or a travelling guide might be a good choice.

    ②          

    After discovering possible jobs, you'll want to learn more about them. Talking directly to workers on the phone, by email, or through online discussion can help you get information about what they do. Even meeting with them in person is helpful. First-hand information is necessary for you to find out if you'll really like a career.

    Mom and Dad are two of the most important persons in your life. Over your lifetime, they may influence you more than anyone else you will meet. So if your mom loves to read, you just might grow up carrying a book wherever you go, just as she does. But parents do a lot more than just pass on their hobbies. Moms and Dads need to care for their kids the minute their kids are born. Most parents will do this as long as they live.

    Here are some ways you can stay close, get along well, and build a strong relationship with your parents.

    Spend time together. Instead of playing computer games or watching TV, ask your mom and dad to play with you. Go outside together, or do some reading.

    Be kind. Little things might mean a lot to your mom or dad. You can brighten a parent's day with a hug, a card, or a joke. It's also lovely when a kid cleans up his or her room without being asked. And if you try not to fight with your brothers or sisters, your parents will be so happy!

    Do your best at whatever you do. You don't have to be perfect, but when you do your best, you make your parents proud. It makes them happy to see how you're turning into a good kid. Why？Because it lets them know they're doing a good job.

    New rules and behavior standards（标准） for middle school students came out. Who are the most excellent students? Middle schools use a new way to decide that. The best students won't only have good grades. The following are some of the new rules.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Have you ever copied others' work during an exam? Don't do it again. That's not what an honest student should do. If you played computer games for two hours in your room, don't tell your parents you were doing your homework.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} April is Bird-Loving Month in China. Is your school doing anything to celebrate? You should join! That way, you can learn more about animals and learn how to protect them.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When your classmates are in trouble, remember to give them a hand. You know a friend in need is a friend indeed. Try to do more for others.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Try to stay away from Web pages that are bad for you. Find good websites and use them for homework.

     {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Have you ever thought that people could live on the moon? Maybe you can discover a new planet someday. Don't look down on new ideas. You should welcome them because new ideas can make life better.

Mechanical Engineering

    Do you like to build with blocks? Have you ever wondered how planes stay in the air? Do you like to design and create new things? If you do, a career(职业）in mechanical engineering might be right for you！

    A mechanical engineer is responsible for coming up with and designing mechanical systems. Mechanical systems can include machine design, heating and cooling equipment, and product design.

    Mechanical engineers are in high need right now. There are a lot of job openings for mechanical engineers, but there aren't enough people to fill those jobs. Because there is a high need for engineers and the work requires specialized knowledge, engineers get paid more than some other careers.

    To be a mechanical engineer, you need to graduate from college with a bachelor's(学士)degree. In college, you will learn problem solving and critical thinking skills.

    Problem solving is very important in the field of mechanical engineering. To come up with the best solution to a problem, mechanical engineers need to think in different ways. They also need to be creative, because they may need to make something that's never been made before. Paying attention to details(细节)is important as well. Many designs depend on a lot of little details.

    Mechanical engineers also need to be able to use different tools, such as calculators, high-speed cameras, and computers. There are many computer programs mechanical engineers use to create designs, run scenarios(方案), and do research.

    As with many other jobs, mechanical engineers should be able to meet deadlines(期限)and work well with other people. Some jobs can be done with just one person, but more often mechanical engineers work on a team to complete a project. If an engineer cannot manage his or her time well and misses a deadline, the whole team gets delayed(拖延).

    Some engineers work in an office, and some travel to different worksites while a machine or product is being built, so they can help solve any problems.

    Mechanical engineering takes a lot of thought. It is a great career for people who like to make objects and machines work, solve problems, and be creative！