Curtains Up

   Time slips swiftly. The beginning of my university life is still vivid in my mind. I’d like to describe my new life as a play directed by my self. So I pick up “Curtains Up” as the title to modify my lovely, interesting, attractive and some how a little disordered first three months of the first year.

   As a student majoring in English, I’ve dipped into the linguistic environment for a few months. Progress is made such as the improvement of my reading skills, listening, and the most delightful one, overcoming my stage fright and more willing to express myself by speaking out, though there is not great achievement during this period. I appreciate my academic performance in the first half of this term, for I’ve witnessed clearly by myself how I got through the trials and errors, did the accumulation work and learned hard. But to tell the truth, I am not satisfied with it. Quantity isn’t equal to quality entirely. Sometimes I’m sort of disappointed and frustrated by not remembering some points so well and the shortage of my vocabulary list. I know the root of it is the lack of reviewing or less using of the words or expressions. Time limit becomes an excuse and is often blamed for the problems. However, in some ways, it does reflect the disadvantages of my time management. So one day I picked up my pen to design a personal monthly calendar. And if I encountered several jobs which happened at the same time, the agenda and reminder would be my favorite helpers. Little by little, I am learning to plan my schedules and then my strategies. I’m gratified with my in-class performance. It is confidence and the character of out-going that make me active.

   I’m happy to find that the atmosphere in BCI is very pleasant and enjoyable. The characteristics of every student make him or her radiate his or her personal brilliance. As the time goes by, our more understanding of each other makes us closer. I did have found good friends, but not yet best friend(s). I have one or two friends with whom I can share so many things. I really enjoy the nights when we share the secrets in our hearts and the worm comfort on the long, long campus road. Well, for me, to find a best friend in this new environment, it takes time.

   I have indeed changed in my college life. I begin to appreciate myself as an individual in this huge school. Though homesickness does appear, I love the life here (I’m lovin’ it!) Freedom, independence, responsibility, heart of appreciation, self-discipline and self-control are gradually amplified in my mind. In my opinion, those are the exact things that make me consider myself as a college student rather than a middle school student. I have no condemn to a middle school student which I once was. I enjoy both the two stages of life. While realizing my becoming mature is an honorable and exciting process.

   Alice impresses me most by her English proficiency, especially in public speech, and Xiao Qing, in her vocabulary. Alice can speak English fluently and it helps her convey the points to the listeners more profoundly, smoothly and successfully. Xiao Qing is good at memorizing so many words. Correspondingly, what they are versed is what I want to focus on. To learn from the others is always a god way to improve yourself.

   I find Louis a fine man (ha-ha!), an agreeable gentleman. His goals or dreams (somehow combined together) are most impressed. His spiritual state is noble, I think. And sometimes he is humorous.

   Actually, I haven’t found out who is the most industrious student in BCI. Well, I believe I’ll be one of them. As for me, I won’t follow the other’s way of studying. I know the “way” is a personal one which is just fit for its master. I’d rather say that I will absorb the essence of the skills that I need to improve my own one.

  IR is not a course in which we endure the boredom. I cherish what everyone contributes and what I receive. But sometimes, I find the procedure in disorder and the content appears to be too exhaustive for us to pull down several points. There should be a standard, not too limited to the text and not too far-fetching. Background knowledge takes too much time. I suggest spending more time in the words, phrases and grammar learning, and practicing our Q&A skills (comprehension of the text, answer correctly to the questions raised in the text or by the students).

  The Internet is a most fantastic word that haunts our imagination in the 21st century. With the rapid development in Computer Science, the functions of the Internet have been improved in all aspects. I don't know how far and how long it will spread, but I do consider Internet is exerting great influence on the human beings, great and unavoidable that it exists in our work, study, life and so on. Its track can be traced almost everywhere.

   However, every coin has two sides. The Internet is no exception. When thinking it over, we will soon find Internet a two-edged weapon. It serves as a good means of acquiring information and communication. For example, when we are doing a research, Internet has such a generous hand that we can always get an easier and quicker access to the reference materials. It makes things more convenient for us. An instant respond from baidu.com provides us a general view of the related information. You want to enjoy the music concert in Vienna, to watch the exciting football game in Germany and other performance or exhibitions. But even with the fastest transportation, you cannot reach the spots at the same time. You won't miss them, nevertheless, as long as you sit down in front of a computer and click the mouse to browse several websites. Without your going out of the house and paying higher, a window of the colorful world is open for you. The world seems to become smaller and smaller under the inluence of the Internet. QQ, msn, email box, such kinds of commutative tools shorten the distance between thoughts and hearts though the geographic distance still exists. Businessmen hold their meetings and sign the contracts through Internet. What the world will be without this marvelous high-tech invention?

   Internet has disadvantages as well and sometimes it even results in immense destruction. As the world of Internet is relatively unlimited, various kinds of thoughts can be conveyed without much difficulty. Therefore, pornography, violence and other evil deeds emerge occasionally when we are surfing the Internet. Take QQ as an example again, some bad guys take advantage of it to deceive their QQ friends, which not only leads to the loss of money, but also mental attack. What's more, without enough self-discipline, large amounts of people, from teenagers to adults, have been addicted to a mimic world. It is health-striking. I often hear about the news reports that someone has been taken out of the web club after 60 hours' continually attaching himself to the online games. That sounds horrible, isn't it? Hackers turn up as the Internet and its techniques develop. They are the threats to many fields whose assistance mainly relies on the computers. Once connections are needed, such organizations' safety systems may encounter the challenge from the destructive virus.

   As a result, it is essential for our government to take actions to prevent the atmosphere of the Internet world from being heavily polluted. Legislators should set up laws to protect the victims as well as to educate the people how to use Internet to improve their life but not to destroy it. On the other hand, Internet is just a tool at the first place. What it really counts remains with our attitudes to it. Always remember to follow the laws and acted legally online and not to harm the others and yourself. In return the beauty of Internet will be in favor of you.

   As far as I'm concerned, although we might not be able to get rid of the defect of Internet at the moment, I back the point that Internet does good to us. It is an irreplaceable product of knowledge and wits in the modern world.