ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Literature lights up my life, boosting confidence
Editor's Note:
"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.
Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn
Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.
Reading books has many virtues that can not only make a person resourceful, but also can make someone learn about to life. In my case, when I'm feeling frustrated because of failures or setbacks, reading literature makes me optimistic and tough enough to face life and move forward.
Some books and articles containing knowledge enlighten me about new perspectives in uncharted fields. It's just like traveling around the world.
I would like to tell my story about reading Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species.
It was in this book that the famous Survival of the Fittest theory was propounded. It was this theory that got me interested in biological evolution.
The writer of the theory was a remarkable figure called Charles Darwin. Darwin was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist best known for his contributions to the science of evolution.
His seminal work, On the Origin of Species, introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over generations through a process of natural selection.
Darwin's theory argued that species adapt to their environment as those with advantageous traits survive and reproduce. His ideas revolutionized the understanding of life's diversity and had profound implications across various scientific disciplines, as well as having broader social impact.
When I read either theoretical articles or history books, I truly feel the deafening power of literature. The simple and meaningful sayings shape me into someone with competitiveness, offer me a less abstract and more clear cognition of the natural evolution, and give me a sense of reverence toward nature as well.
What's more, fiction and essays are like my spiritual tutors. They always cheer me up.
Until now I still remember my academic low ebb one year ago. At the end of that semester, I nearly failed all the science subjects that I was confident in and devoted to.
I was extremely disappointed at myself and wondered if I was born to be bad in those subjects. I didn't try to face my problems until one day I read a saying from Dumbledore in the Harry Potter book collection. It says, "It's our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." It touches me deep as I was just avoiding dealing with the problem and doubting my talent instead.
There is another story, which compares our life to a river that experiences every aspect of natural scenery - from peaceful and well-off to frustrating and so on - also cheered me up. It told me that it's common to fail, which comforted me a lot. It also made me believe I will achieve success as long as I try.
And so, I reviewed all those science subjects with confidence again, and tried my best to develop my skills and thinking. Though during that time, I encountered lots of failures and hardships, I stopped doubting myself and kept on going. Finally, I steadied my grades in those subjects, became keen on them and now am able to dig into extended problems. In retrospect to the words, I read that day, I am so grateful to the power of literature.
I have overcome many obstacles in my life, and I would like to attribute that success not only to my hard work but also to literature. Literature has been a guiding light in my life.
The author is a student at Beijing National Day School
"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.
Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn
Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.
Photo:VCG
Literature is a guiding light in my life. It offers me knowledge in different fields and different opinions which inspire me. For me, developing good reading habits is a task that needs to involve efforts in everyday life.Reading books has many virtues that can not only make a person resourceful, but also can make someone learn about to life. In my case, when I'm feeling frustrated because of failures or setbacks, reading literature makes me optimistic and tough enough to face life and move forward.
Some books and articles containing knowledge enlighten me about new perspectives in uncharted fields. It's just like traveling around the world.
I would like to tell my story about reading Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species.
It was in this book that the famous Survival of the Fittest theory was propounded. It was this theory that got me interested in biological evolution.
The writer of the theory was a remarkable figure called Charles Darwin. Darwin was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist best known for his contributions to the science of evolution.
His seminal work, On the Origin of Species, introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over generations through a process of natural selection.
Darwin's theory argued that species adapt to their environment as those with advantageous traits survive and reproduce. His ideas revolutionized the understanding of life's diversity and had profound implications across various scientific disciplines, as well as having broader social impact.
When I read either theoretical articles or history books, I truly feel the deafening power of literature. The simple and meaningful sayings shape me into someone with competitiveness, offer me a less abstract and more clear cognition of the natural evolution, and give me a sense of reverence toward nature as well.
What's more, fiction and essays are like my spiritual tutors. They always cheer me up.
Until now I still remember my academic low ebb one year ago. At the end of that semester, I nearly failed all the science subjects that I was confident in and devoted to.
I was extremely disappointed at myself and wondered if I was born to be bad in those subjects. I didn't try to face my problems until one day I read a saying from Dumbledore in the Harry Potter book collection. It says, "It's our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." It touches me deep as I was just avoiding dealing with the problem and doubting my talent instead.
There is another story, which compares our life to a river that experiences every aspect of natural scenery - from peaceful and well-off to frustrating and so on - also cheered me up. It told me that it's common to fail, which comforted me a lot. It also made me believe I will achieve success as long as I try.
And so, I reviewed all those science subjects with confidence again, and tried my best to develop my skills and thinking. Though during that time, I encountered lots of failures and hardships, I stopped doubting myself and kept on going. Finally, I steadied my grades in those subjects, became keen on them and now am able to dig into extended problems. In retrospect to the words, I read that day, I am so grateful to the power of literature.
I have overcome many obstacles in my life, and I would like to attribute that success not only to my hard work but also to literature. Literature has been a guiding light in my life.
The author is a student at Beijing National Day School
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