How to Enjoy Life As a Teen

    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 decent education or simply being born in this world, value it. {#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. When you actually become an adult, you'll learn to love that responsibility and you probably never want to go back.

    Choose your friends wisely. Unlike what many articles state, you don't have to be popular and have a gazillion friends to be happy. {#blank#}2{#/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.

    Keep your grades up. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This also sets you up to get into a college you want to go to, which in turn prepares you for a career you will enjoy, improving your quality of life in the future. You'll get cheap car insurance as well if you have at least a B or A average.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Participating in clubs, activities, and sports increases your chances of meeting new friends. 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 and wallowing in self-pity.

    Work at a job you can enjoy. Working is a great way co gain experience and to meet other people. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This will look great on your resume. If you can't find work, especially in this hard economic time, volunteer or make your own job.

A. Be sociable.

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

C. Find a hobby that is meaningful or practical.

D. In fact, many of the "friends" you have when you are popular are not true friends.

E. When you do get out of college, interviewing companies will look at your previous work experience.

F. Even though you want to enjoy your teen life as best as possible, don't idle away your time in school.

G. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your hard work pay off in the form of A's and B's (but mainly A's).

    Do you ever feel like you read something over and over but you just can't seem to remember it?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, we all have to do it at some point for work or for school. Here are a few steps that will help us study more effectively and remember the information.

    1）Set a goal.

    Before you even start reading, it is important to set a goal. What do you hope you can learn by reading the material? What key points will you be required to know at a later date?{#blank#}2{#/blank#} If not, you should pay mare attention to the information you are looking for.

    2）Do the following things.

    First you need to notice the title above each section. That will tell you what the section is about.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph slowly and carefully and re-read them if you have to.

    3）Familiarize yourself with the material.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}So for a job, you might search online for something similar to what you are reading. For students, school websites are useful or another textbook may be able to explain words in a way that is easier to understand,

    4）Review the material

    After you have read and understood the material, review it a few times a day,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Studies have shown that on average it takes several (anywhere from 3 to 8) times reading and reviewing a material before it becomes part of your permanent memory.

A. It can be very helpful to refer to extra material.

B. It can be hard to read something and keep it in mind.

C. It is easier to remember concepts when you rewrite them.

D. Also, topic sentences are valuable sources of information.

E. If everything is important, you wilt have to work a little harder.

F. This will help you understand it better and remember the information.

G. This doesn't change the fact that it can still be very difficult to remember things.

What If We Don't Get Along?

    Teachers want to get along with you and enjoy seeing you learn. But teachers and students sometimes have personality clashes（人格冲突）. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you show your teacher that you want to make the situation better, he or she will probably do everything possible to make that happen. Take these steps if the problem seems difficult to solve:

    ⒈Talk to an adult you trust, such as a parent, guidance counselor, or both.

    ⒉{#blank#}2{#/blank#} You may not feel immediately comfortable with your teachers, but that may change as you get to know one another.

    ⒊If you've given it time, talk with your parents about what to do next. Lots of times, a meeting can be set up to discuss the problem. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Everyone's goal should be to create trust and kindness.

    Your relationship with your teachers is often your first chance to develop a “business relationship”. They are different from your family relationships and friendships, which are built on affection and love. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But they don't necessarily need to be good friends or like each other a lot. They simply need to respect one another, be polite, and stay focused on the jobs at hand.

    When you act this way, and remember that you're not the only kid in the class, you are helping your teacher. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Teachers also like it when students follow directions and when they learn and obey the rules of the classroom. For instance, there may be rules about listening when another student is talking, about taking turns, or about raising your hand when you want to say something or ask a question.

A. Give it time.

B. This can happen between any two people.

C. This may clear the air and make things better.

D. Your teacher is likely to notice this and appreciate it.

E. Therefore, those teachers rarely show respect towards their students.

F. A teacher cannot necessarily answer all the questions his students ask.

G. In a business relationship, both parties get something out of the relationship.

    Do arithmetic problems 15 through 25. State the different forms of the verbs on page 50 of your French workbook. Read pages 12 through 20 of the Shakespeare play, and don't forget to fill in the missing chemical symbols on the worksheet.

    Sound like a list of your homework for the next few nights—or maybe even just for tonight? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's your teachers' way of evaluating how much you understand what's going on in class. And it helps strengthen important concepts.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's inviting to start with the easy things to get them out of the way. However, you'll have the most energy and focus when you begin, so it's best to use this mental power on the subjects that are most challenging. Later, when you're more tired, you can focus on the simpler things. If you get stuck on a problem, try to figure it out as well as you can—but don't spend too much time on it because this can mess up your homework schedule for the rest of the night. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} But don't pick someone whom you'll be up all night chatting with, or you'll never get it done!

    Most people's attention spans(一段时间) aren't very long, so take some breaks while doing your homework. Sitting for too long without relaxing will make you less productive than if you stop every so often. Taking a 15-minute break every hour is a good idea for most people. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Once your homework is done, you can check over it if you have extra time. Be sure to put it safely away in your backpack—there's nothing worse than having a completed assignment that you can't find the next morning or that gets ruined by a careless brother or sister. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Now you're free to hang out.

A. In conclusion, no one is expected to stay long, and people have very different learning styles.

B. But if you're really concentrating, wait until it's a good time to stop.

C. If you need to, ask an adult for help or call or email a classmate for advice.

D. Luckily, you can do a few things to do less homework.

E. When you start your homework, deal with the hardest tasks first.

F. And no teacher still believes that “chewed by the dog” line—even when it's true!

G. Homework is a major part of going to school.

Prepare to Succeed

    People are always thinking about success. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} This thought isn't one that brings them closer, however, because thinking, dreaming or wishing just doesn't get it done.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}You may ask, “Why is preparation necessary?”

    The easiest answer to this question is to say that if you are not ready to move forward, then you may just as well keep doing what you have always done.

    Success doesn't come easy. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Success requires you to be prepared to sacrifice leisure time, or time spent watching television or going out with friends, at every opportunity. Success means you are prepared to do whatever it takes to constantly move the yardsticks （码尺）forward day after day.

    Here is just one quote, from Calvin Coolidge, the 30^th president of the United States, that expresses what preparation is about: “{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow.” This quote can be interpreted to mean that you may have strength or confidence to start on your way right now to move toward your final goal. However, it is also critical that committed action each day builds to help you keep going when obstacles arise or when you just don't feel like you have the interest or energy to stay focused.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}That shows you what steps or actions to take, when to take them or what to do if issues, obstacles or other life issues get in the way.

    The bottom line is actually quite clear: You are either willing, able and committed to achieve what you want, or you are simply dreaming or wishing that success finds you.

A. There are no shortcuts （捷径）.

B. Success is getting what you want.

C. Our real problem is not our strength today.

D. Preparation also means that you have a plan or a goal.

E. The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

F. It is in their brains as they go about daily routines looking for something better.

G. One of the most important parts of personal or professional success is preparation.

Tips on Young Adult Life

    As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Don't panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!

    With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make your own choices. This is a time to be well informed about making choices. In this way you can make healthy balanced decisions. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will show itself to you.

    Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} But try not to shut your family out of your life. You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.

    It is also perfectly natural at this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.

    This period is a part of the life cycle. There are some people who will be with you throughout life's journey. There will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not even see all of your classmates again.

    You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!