Life-Changing Lessons From Some Of China’s Best Students Lesson #18: “Hooligan in the Home”

When I was twelve years old, I never thought that I would ever study in a university. But now I am writing this story as a PhD student at Peking University. What was it that changed me? Let me tell you my story. When I was in the sixth-grade of

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Life-Changing Lessons From Some Of China’s Best Students Lesson #17: “Surrounded”

“It’s time to wake up and get ready for school! Remember, you are on duty today and you can’t be late!” Hearing my mom’s shouting, I unwillingly opened my eyes and struggled to get out of my nice, warm bed. It was winter time and still dark outside, and I

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Life-Changing Lessons from Some of China’s Best Students Lesson #16: “Missing Bullet Shells”

“There will be a film tonight on the playground,” one of my little friends shouted to me. We were all so excited when we heard the good news because, at just five years old, we had never seen a movie before. You see, in the early 1990s, most Chinese people

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Life-Changing Lessons from Some of China’s Best Students Lesson #14: “Family Upheaval”

“What do you want to eat today,” my mom asked. “And where do you want to go this weekend to play?” After I was born, my mother left her job and devoted her time to taking care of our family. Moreover, my father and his best friend ran a successful

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Life-Changing Lessons from Some of China’s Best Students Lesson #13: “Green Bean Soup”

Green bean soup is cooked together with rice and green beans. If you want it sweeter, you can always add a little sugar. It is not only cool to quench one’s thirst, but it also has a soothing and detoxifying effect. When I was in junior middle school, I went

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Life-Changing Lessons from Some of China’s Best Students Lesson #12: “The ‘Terrible’ Gardener”

When I was a little boy, my family lived in a house near a beautiful hill where lots of families lived. The hill was managed by a gardener, but most people never saw him. My best friend Lei said, “The hill is managed by a terrible man. He is big

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Life-Changing Lessons from Some of China’s Best Students Lesson #11: “The Burning Ping-Pong Ball”

In every person’s life, there are many events that make a lasting impression. Some may be happy, and some sad. Some can be heart-warming, and some provide an important lesson to learn. I was greatly impacted by an event that happened in my childhood, an event that taught me to

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Life-Changing Lessons from Some of China’s Best Students Lesson #10: “Ping-Pong Playoff”

When I heard the ping-pong ball skipping across the table, I could feel my heart beat skip too. It was my last game in primary school, and the last ball of the game. Either I would win, along with my team, or we would both lose. That game was critical,

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Life-Changing Lessons from Some of China’s Best Students Lesson #9: “My Cousin Cong”

“Will you go with me to watch the drama?” Grandpa asked. “Yes, Sir!” my cousin Cong shouted eagerly. I just thought in disgust, “Why must Cong go with us?” During the temple fair in our village (which falls on the 15th day of the third moon), there were always traditional

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Life-Changing Lessons from Some of China’s Best Students Lesson #8: “In the Nick of Time”

When I was a little girl, I liked playing with my friends during the summer in the pool outside our village. But I have never gone back there since the day I realized that children must never go near the deep end of the pool. Let me tell you my

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