佚名/Anonymous

Life is full of challenges. School has to be the most challenging obstacle in the lives of youth today.

Elementary school brings about a few challenges characteristic of those years spent there. There's the challenge of coloring in the lines, a very real problem to any youngster. Or how about the challenge of remembering to raise one's hand before one speaks? There are hundreds of rules and regulations that govern these young children. The one thing that keeps these children in line is the hope of reward. Yes, this is the brass ring. The reward for a clean desk is an extra five minutes of recess! The prize for having all homework done, a shiny-new pencil topper! These small wonders keep small people in line. They make the children love challenge.

Middle school is not so easy. It is not easy for the students, and it also isn't easy for the teachers. The challenge of staying out of trouble, or writing that research paper—these are the new confrontations of an older, wiser group. This clan has outgrown the recess and pencil-topper tricks. They know that their efforts have to bring them something really useful, so morn and pop are pulled onto the scene. How does five, ten dollars for each "A" sound? Or, how about no telephone if one doesn't do good in school? Need I say more?

By the time high school arrives, a student's place in academic excellence or else their unlikelihood to even graduate has been established. Little can be done now to make life's challenges seem interesting, especially where school comes in. The slothful are rewarded with a nice job at a gas station, and a fifteen-year-old Ford. The diligent are rewarded with an SAT score of over 1100, acceptance into Yale University, and a ticket to life. By meeting the challenges of school, sticking it out, and pulling through, they are given their greatest reward: success.

生活中处处有挑战。如今，年轻人所面临的最大挑战莫过于学校。

小学期间的挑战充满那个时代的气息。对于每个孩子来说，给各种线条上色，无疑如临大敌。还有，发言前记得要举手的挑战容易应对吗？为管教这些小家伙，学校制定了无数清规戒律。要让孩子们好好表现，就要给他们获奖的希望。的确，表现好就有得奖的机会。保持课桌干净，可多得五分钟休息时间；完成全部家庭作业，可获得一个崭新的铅笔帽！这些不起眼的惊喜可使那些小家伙循规蹈矩。同时，可使他们爱上挑战！

中学生活并不容易。做学生不容易，当老师也同样不容易。对于年龄较大、更懂事的学生来说，他们不再因多得到几分钟休息时间或一个铅笔帽而感到满足，他们面临的新挑战是少惹事，学习写论文。他们很清楚，他们的努力应换来一些真正实用的东西，所以父母亲也被牵涉进来。作业获得A等，是不是该得到五美元或十美元，在学校表现不好回家不许打电话又该怎么办？类似的例子，我无须多言。

到了高中，一个学生的学业是否优秀，或能否顺利毕业，已是一目了然。这时，让生活中的挑战变得有意思已经不太可能了，尤其是学业。对于懒惰的学生，学业给予他一份加油站的差事，一辆跑了15年的老福特；然而，学业给予勤奋刻苦的学生一张耶鲁大学的通行证（他的入学考分1100多），从而踏上生活的阳光大道。后者在学校时面对挑战坚忍不拔，过关斩将，终于得到生活的馈赠，成就斐然。

所谓命运，不过是自己选择的结果。尽管人们的追求不同、喜好各异，但无疑每个人都想在短暂的生命旅途中享受愉悦、收获幸福。学校是梦想起飞的地方，如果你不想在将来收获的季节空手叹息，那么在一开始就请播下饱满的种子——积极、勤奋、理智。

characteristic[?k?rikt??ristik]adj.特有的；典型的

Urban inhabitants have to live with the characteristic noises of cities.

城市居民不得不忍受都市特有的喧嚣。

regulation[?reɡju?lei??n]n.规章；规则；章程；法规

He was fined for breaking traffic regulations.

他因违反交通规则而被罚款。

govern[?ɡ?v?n]v.管理；治理

One can't completely govern one's thoughts at all times.

人不能始终控制得住自己的思想。

confrontation[?k?nfr?n?tei??n]n.对抗；对抗的事物；对峙；冲突

We value plurality, but discourage open confrontation.

我们重视多元，但避免冲突。

生活中处处有挑战。如今，年轻人所面临的最大挑战莫过于学校。

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小学期间的挑战充满那个时代的气息。

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对于懒惰的学生，学业给予他一份加油站的差事，一辆跑了15年的老福特；然而，学业给予勤奋刻苦的学生一张耶鲁大学的通行证。

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Life is full of challenges.

be full of：充满；装满

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Elementary school brings about a few challenges characteristic of those years spent there.

bring about：带来；产生

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