I remember the last time I had to choose between optimism and fear, between fight and flight. It was right after 9/11. I had (baby) and I wanted to pack them up and flee to some safer place.
The very act of (have) a child is an optimistic bid on the future. You learn that it's your job to tell these little creatures that everything's going to be OK, all evidence to the contrary. To do that, you have to find your own way toward hope — there's no better insincerity detector than a little kid. So you say to (you): Yes, my kids will be able to make a good life in a (peace) place. Yes, there's still time for the nations of the earth (get) it together; and yes, their history will lean towards justice. Then, for the next 20 years, the world challenges that daring optimism. So time and again you must find it within yourself to choose hope — not for yourself for them. You look for the helpers. Or do your best to be a helper, rather than get (drag) down into despair (绝望).
My kids are big now. Grown, but not yet charge of the world they live in. So we (define) these times together. The two of them will have to discover their own well of optimism.
We Chinese had all along hold the coming-of-age ceremony since ancient times, and it may be unfamiliar to some of us. Nowadays, however, it is gaining little popularity in many places. This year's coming-of-age ceremony in our school will be held at 5 p. m. on next Friday in the lecture hall. To make it a complete success, first, a video about students and our campus life will be showing. Our principal will then deliver an excited speech, after which, some students representatives will make a serious promise to be responsible adults. Beside, on behalf of the students' union, I will invite our foreign teacher Mrs. Beck to attend ceremony. Hopefully, she can give me a few words of encouragement.
