HOW TO CHANGE A BORING LIFE? - "The chance of a lifetime" (story)

Sonia was a teenager living in a small town. She seemed to be a very happy girl. She had many friends at school and was one of the best student in her class.

However, one day she realised her life was boring and each day was practically the same. She wondered if she could ever have a chance to change it. She had never done anything crazy - always behaved in a very calm, peaceful and placed way. Every day was filled with school duties; the only thing she used to do at her free time was watching dance programmes. She was observing dancing couples, admiring every performance and really regretting she couldn't even dance. Sonia was sure she would never appear on the stage and didn't realise that it was exactly her secret dream.

Sonia's eighteen birthday was coming closer. Her parents wanted to give her a special present, but they couldn't find any good idea, because they used to see their daughter only in front of the books or sometimes watching TV. They wanted her to go out home. Finally, they bought a special ticket as an invitation for Sonia to take part in the holiday dancing course led by the most famous dancers in the whole country.

So why wouldn't she take the chance to change her boring life?

Three years later, she became a professional dancer and created her own dance school. Now, she is one of the best choreographer in Poland. She travels a lot with her team and performs on the most well-known stages in all Europe. Anything you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want - you've got it!

S.P.

"THE SWORD OF DESTINY has two edges. You are one of them." (review)

If I had to choose my favourite book, it would be one of The Witcher saga for certain. Each of them has a big influence not only on my life, but also on my behaviour and ideas. 'The Last Wish' is a first tome of Witcher's history, which was written by Andrzej Sapkowski. He created a completely different world, full of magic, fantasy creatures (such as dragons), violence and love, though it still feels very realistic.

'The Voice of Reason' is the frame story, first chapter, where we meet the main character of the book, Geralt of Rivia - eponymous Witcher. Witchers are trained to fight with evil creatures, that are lurking and hunting for living ones. I did not use the word 'human' for purpose, because it is not the only existing race. We should not forget about elves, dwarves, gnomes and so on, as their appearance is very important.

Geralt and his ilk are globetrotters, humans turned into mutants at a very young age. They were modified by some kind of potions to provide them with supernatural abilities. The book describes main hero's adventures, things he has to face.

I was captivated not only by this short stories, but also by the whole saga. Andrzej Sapkowski's genius is  incomparable. The Witcher can teach us may things, like for example, that making even seemingly right choices can completely change our lives, or that "the sword of destiny has two edges. You are one of them".

By Kat S.
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Ps. I'd like to add sth just for a climate ;) If you are willing to listen, then just enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoBW1VLJzds

KID OR ADULT? (essay)

Theme of my work is childhood. It is the first period of human life, our years of growing, the time in which most of the problems are simple. Still very often we can meet kids who keep saying, that they want to grow up as soon as possible. Then, when they are adults, they wish to return to this age of joy and innocence. Why?

Firstly, childhood is often associated with the lack of any obligations, most of the time it is fun and pranks. Secondly, mistakes made by children are often forgivable, we usually do not have to suffer from them, because they are not very serious. Finally, children do not have to work as they are financed by their parents, they do not have to earn money and worry about the family.

However, the childhood also has some bad sides. The first of them is the deficiency of possibilities for making important decisions, they are limited by parents in many cases. The second disadvantage is they can not buy everything by themselves, because they do not earn their own money and parents do not meet their every whim. The last minus is adults do not always treat children seriously, often do not allow doing a lot of things.

In conclusion, people usually think that the grass is greener on the other side. They hurry to grown up and later long for a lost childhood. In this way they forget the present time. I think we should just seize the moment. 

A.S.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN LIFE? (essay)

How can a person succeed in the world of today? Should we chase our dreams or just ignore them and focus on living the way our parents live? Can we even do something without knowing the right person who can help us?

To start with, I think that everyone, who really concentrates on doing their best at things they love, sooner or later will achieve something. But it cannot be the way that is so often shown by kids, who want to be sportsmen, singers, firefighters, etc. and then they spend their time in front of TV or computer. You need to use all your time for practising and grasp every single possibility,  this is the only way to not let your chances sneak by and succeed.

On a second thought noone can guarantee you that you will earn big money from your dream job, but I think that being poor and happy is better then being rich but sad. Of course everyone has their own thoughts on money so I will not generalise.  Another problem is that are borders which you might be not able to cross, no matter how hard you try. I doubt that any of us will became someone like El Greco but there is always a possibility and it would be such a shame to let it go; to waste it without even trying.

To sum up I will say that the only way to be successful in life is to be happy. Not rich, not famous, just happy. And to be happy, you need to do the things you like, not the ones someone will make you do.
So do not abandon your dreams, go chase them and be happy!