小學期間的挑戰充滿那個時代的氣息。對於每個孩子來說，給各種線條上色，無疑如臨大敵。還有，發言前記得要舉手的挑戰容易應對嗎？為管教這些小家夥，學校製定了無數清規戒律。要讓孩子們好好表現，就要給他們獲獎的希望。的確，表現好就有得獎的機會。保持課桌幹淨，可多得五分鍾休息時間；完成全部家庭作業，可獲得一個嶄新的鉛筆帽！這些不起眼的驚喜可使那些小家夥循規蹈矩。同時，可使他們愛上挑戰！
中學生活並不容易。做學生不容易，當老師也同樣不容易。對於年齡較大、更懂事的學生來說，他們不再因多得到幾分鍾休息時間或一個鉛筆帽而感到滿足，他們麵臨的新挑戰是少惹事，學習寫論文。他們很清楚，他們的努力應換來一些真正實用的東西，所以父母親也被牽涉進來。作業獲得A等，是不是該得到五美元或十美元，在學校表現不好回家不許打電話又該怎麽辦？類似的例子，我無須多言。
到了高中，一個學生的學業是否優秀，或能否順利畢業，已是一目了然。這時，讓生活中的挑戰變得有意思已經不太可能了，尤其是學業。對於懶惰的學生，學業給予他一份加油站的差事，一輛跑了15年的老福特；然而，學業給予勤奮刻苦的學生一張耶魯大學的通行證（他的入學考分1100多），從而踏上生活的陽光大道。後者在學校時麵對挑戰堅忍不拔，過關斬將，終於得到生活的饋贈，成就斐然。
所謂命運，不過是自己選擇的結果。盡管人們的追求不同、喜好各異，但無疑每個人都想在短暫的生命旅途中享受愉悅、收獲幸福。學校是夢想起飛的地方，如果你不想在將來收獲的季節空手歎息，那麽在一開始就請播下飽滿的種子——積極、勤奮、理智。
characteristic [，k鎟ikt'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囂。
regulation [，reju'lein] n. 規章；規則；章程；規章製度；法規
He was fined for breaking traffic regulations.
他因違反交通規則而被罰款。
govern ['vn] v. 管理；治理
One can't completely govern one's thoughts at all times.
人不能始終控製得住自己的思想。
confrontation [，knfrn'tein] n. 對抗；對抗的事物；對峙；衝突
We value plurality， but discourage open confrontation.
我們重視多元，但避免對立。
生活中處處有挑戰。如今，年輕人所麵臨的最大挑戰莫過於學校。
小學期間的挑戰充滿那個時代的氣息。
對於懶惰的學生，學業給予他一份加油站的差事，一輛跑了15年的老福特；然而，學業給予勤奮刻苦的學生一張耶魯大學的通行證。
Life is full of challenges.
be full of：充滿；裝滿
Elementary school brings about a few challenges characteristic of those years spent there.
bring about：帶來；產生
堅持才能走向成功
I Will Persist until I Succeed
佚名 / Anonymous
In the Orient young bulls are tested for the fight arena in a certain manner. Each is brought to the ring and allowed to attack a picador who pricks them with a lance. The bravery of each bull is then rated with care according to the number of times he demonstrates his willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade. Henceforth will I recognize that each day I am tested by life in like manner. If I persist， if I continue to try， if I continue to charge forward， I will succeed.
I was not delivered unto this world in defeat， nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk， to walk， to sleep with the sheep. I will hear not those who weep and complain， for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.
The prizes of life are at the end of each journey， not near the beginning； and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step， yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner. Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another， and yet another. In truth， one step at a time is not too difficult.
Henceforth， I will consider each day's effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak. The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood， nor the second， nor the third. Each blow， of itself， may be trifling， and seem of no consequence. Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble. So it will be with my efforts of today. I will be likened to the rain drop which washes away the mountain； the ant who devours a tiger； the star which brightens the earth； the slave who builds a pyramid. I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts， repeated， will complete any undertaking.
I will never consider defeat and I will remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as quit， cannot， unable， impossible， out of the question， improbable， failure， unworkable， hopeless， and retreat； for they are the words of fools. I will avoid despair but if this disease of the mind should infect me then I will work on in despair. I will toil and I will endure. I will ignore the obstacles at my feet and keep mine eyes on the goals above my head， for I know that where dry desert ends， green grass grows.
I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. I will persist with knowledge that each failure will increase my chance for success at the next attempt. Each nay I hear will bring me closer to the sound of yea. Each frown I meet only prepares me for the smile to come. Each misfortune I encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once.
I will try， and try， and try again. Each obstacle I will consider as a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession. I will persist and develop my skills as the mariner develops his， by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm.
I will not allow yesterday's success to lull me into today's complacency， for this is the great foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone， whether they were good or bad， and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life. So long as there is breath in me， that long will I persist. For now I know one of the greatest principles of success：if I persist long enough I will win.
I will persist. I will win.
在東方，挑選小公牛去競技場格鬥有一定的程序。每頭小牛都被帶進場地，向手持長矛刺向它們的鬥牛士發起攻擊。小牛的勇敢程度，以它所表現出的可以忍受長矛刺痛的次數來衡量。我從中意識到——生活裏，我每天都經曆著類似的測試；如果我堅持下去、不斷嚐試、勇往直前，就能獲得成功。
我並不是為了失敗才來到這個世界，我的血管裏流淌的也不是失敗的血液。我不是一隻任人宰割的羔羊，而是一頭決不與羊群為伍的猛獅。我不願聽到弱者的哭泣和抱怨，因為他們的脆弱會影響到我。讓他們加入羔羊的行列吧！失敗者的屠宰場不是我的宿命。
生活的犒賞不會出現在旅途的起點附近，而往往在旅程的終點。我不知道要走多遠才能到達目的地。走到第一千步，我仍然可能遭遇失敗，然而成功就在下一個拐彎處；如果我不轉過去，我永遠也不會知道它離我有多近。通常，我都會再前行一步；如果還沒成功，我還會再向前一步，然後再往前一步。事實上，每一步並非那麽困難。