Are they different or similar? - People

Are they different or similar?
October 29, 2003

Dominic: 现居加拿大魁北克省。社会科学专业学生，20岁。热爱人文学科，盼望有一天能将所学用于社会。决定自食其力挣足学费，梦想有朝一日周游世界。
"I want to know clearly my worth in society and I want to have a job that responds to my principles."

School life:

The main thing I do is go to school. Only in the province of Quebec, we have an education level called "Cégep". We go to Cégep when we are around 18 - 19 years old and it is the time of our life when we have to choose the way for our future career. I am studying Social Science. I really like my field of studies because it concerns exactly what interest me the most in life: humans and their social behaviour. I live just beside my Cégep so it takes me a few minutes to get to my classes. Most of people of my age must take the bus or drive a car. Everyday of the week, I have a different schedule made up of the courses I need to complete the Social Science program. By following this schedule, I have 22.5 hours of class a week. This semester, I am studying anthropology, political sciences, economics, statistics, English, ethics and physical education. Even if I get enough work, I am not too stressed with my studies.

Leisure time:

I have leisure time on weekends, from Friday night to Sunday night. I like to have parties at home or elsewhere and they often consist of meeting friends, having conversations, listening to music, watching movies and playing parlour games.

Unlike most people of my age, I have the chance to live in an apartment without my parents. This gives me the opportunity to do whatever I want whenever I want without the supervision of any authority. However, it requires a lot more responsibilities. For instance, I must buy my food at the grocery store, cook my meals, clean my dishes, wash my clothes and take care of the house-things that most of people at my age have done by their parents.

Every evening, after my homework, I recount my day and listen to my roommates. Sometimes they prepare delicious dinners for everyone that we all eat together and that gives us the chance to talk and laugh around the table.

In summer, when the weather is good , I like to go outside, bike or walk in the parks. When I get some free time, I like to spend it playing video games, listening to music or reading a good book.

Social life:

Along with my studies and leisure time, I can maintain a satisfactory social life. Since I have been living in an apartment in Montréal, I have met a lot of new people at school and in the neighbourhood. I like to invite people home on weekends to have a party or just to talk with them. My roommates are really good friends too. I spend time with them every evening and I appreciate their presence.

I also keep in contact with my family. One of my roommates is my older brother. I phone my parents many times a week to give them news about my life and I meet my extended family many times a year.

Unfortunately, I have no girlfriend for the moment. I hope I will get one soon because there are really cute girls around here. So, even if I still don’t have a girlfriend, I am satisfied with my relationships and I don’t ask for more.

Future plans:

Cégep is not only a time for me to learn about the world but also myself. I’m hoping to discover the direction my life will take over the next few years.

I know for sure that I’m passionate about social science. The problem is that I get interested in every sub-field of social science (political science, sociology, psychology, etc.) so I don’t feel able yet to choose a specialisation.

After Cégep, I am planning to find a job to have the time to choose my specialisation and be able to pay my university tuition. If I get the opportunity, I would like to travel around the world, too.

Like a lot of people of my age, I don’t know what my future job will be. However, I want to know clearly my worth in society and I want to have a job that responds to my principles and I also want to be conscious of how my work contributes to society. In brief, my plans for the future are still confused but at least, I have a clear purpose. I’m going forward slowly, but surely.

Jess: 中国厦门人，现就读于集美大学商业物流专业二年级，20岁。热爱所学专业，并且离不开音乐陪伴。说到梦想，从小到大有很多，但目前比较现实的想法是先学好专业，成为一个成功的商人，以期能帮助更多人。
"If you smile at life, you'll receive a smile back from life."

School life:

I am Jess, a student in the Logistics Department of Jimei University.

Since I entered the Navigation College of Jimei University, my life has changed a lot. I realized that so many things are left undone unless I take care of them myself. You can’t depend on others to accomplish your own tasks and you can’t rely on your family once you leave home. Though I miss my easy life, I know I have grown up and I must handle things by myself. Everything is up to me to decide! Anyway, my college life gives me great experiences to know how to do this. I really enjoy the secure and supportive campus environment, where life is colorful and dynamic—with a wide range of sports, clubs and cultural activities.

Everyone is genuinely open, friendly, helpful and supportive of others. We are now celebrating the 90th anniversary of the school village. Every corner of the campus is filled with laughter and smiles. Fortunately, I was selected to take part in a drama performance. I like it very much and I have really learnt a lot from it. It is so exciting to stand on the stage and perform. If you would like to travel around Xiamen, Jimei is definitely a place worthy of visiting.

Leisure time:

During my spare time I enjoy lots of hobbies. I consider myself an outgoing boy. I like the sunshine, sports and arts. My mom always says: "If you smile at life, you’ll receive a smile back from life." I try to remember this and I am always positive and smiling at everyone throughout good times or bad times. I like playing basketball, video games, traveling, making friends and listening to music. Hip-hop music is my favorite. Music has become part of my life. I cannot imagine life without it. I found sometimes music can help me explain myself. One of the things that makes me happiest is inviting some good friends around to talk about music.

Social life:

As I’ve mentioned above, I like making friends a lot. It would be terrible if my life was without friends. Friendship is very nice and interesting especially when you have very important people you share your thoughts and ideas with. During holidays, we will ask some close friends to go and climb a mountain with our guitars. Being in nature helps us become closer to each other and our music. We can make our own conclusions about the world rather than always from books or television. I think that must be the best way to form my character and ideas.

Future plans:

People often ask me what hopes and dreams I possess. In fact, I don’t think about it very much. When I was just a little child, I dreamed of medieval castles, of knights, and dragons. I dreamed of spaceships, of astronauts, and even aliens. But I know that those kind of dreams are as fleeting as candlelight.

If you asked me what I want to be, I could tell you I would like to become a businessman. One of the reasons is because of my father, who is a businessman. He works every day to support the family. I admire him and treat him with respect. He often tells me to waste neither time nor opportunity and not to procrastinate when plenty of things need to be tended to. His success greatly influences me and encourages me to try my best with my own life. I don’t want to let my parents down and I want to become what I want to be. I believe my dreams will come true one day. When that day comes, I would like to try my best to help others. "To help others is a great joy", my mother once told me.

My motto is "feel life, thanks to the music" because everyday is a sunny day, just like my easy life!