Being children we should think what we are going to do in our future. We should help others, love others and share what we have with others.

If we behave in a good manner, even in this stage of life, we could be effective people in society in the future.

In my opinion it is worth to be a good person rather than just be someone who has many achievements in various activities. Children receive certificates, medals, rewards, trophies and so on for their performances, yet the attitude and thinking pattern of some of them are very bad.

Therefore, we must focus on how to become effective people in society. We must initially prepare ourselves to face our future by listening to our parents, teachers and elders.

We must follow the correct path that they show us. We should help and look after our parents when they are old and feeble, because they provide us with everything. They take good care of us when we are suffering from illnesses.

So, if we follow in the path they direct us, I am confident that we can become effective people in society. Becoming an effective person in society will not only help the family, but also the whole world.

I earnestly request you to be good and effective people by cultivating good qualities and obeying elders, especially our parents and teachers.

Chathura Samaraweera, Grade 7B, Lyceum International School, Nugegoda.
 

An eclipse of the Sun is a strange and awesome sight. One very interesting incident had taken place way back on June 20, 1955 in our country. Around 8 o’clock in the morning, the Sun had disappeared and night had fallen. Stars too had begun to shine in the dark sky and then, after a few minutes, the Sun had reappeared. This was due to a total solar eclipse that had occurred at that time.

These total or partial solar eclipses occur on certain new moon days during daytime. When Earth revolves around the Sun and the Moon revolves around the Earth and when they lie on a straight line in the order of the Sun, Moon and the Earth, there are eclipses.

During such a time, the Moon’s shadow falls on the Earth and the people may see only a part of the Sun or the whole Sun will disappear from sight. When the Sun is covered there is darkness.

During a solar eclipse we can first see a clear-cut patch of darkness at the edge of the Sun. After a while this black patch quickly spreads and the Sun’s surface gets hidden. So we can see only its rays, streaming round it.

It then looks like a black sun with a ring of light around it. It is called a total eclipse of the Sun or a solar eclipse.

In ancient days, our ancestors thought that this occurred due to the gods being angry or because the Sun was swallowed by Rahu.

So they made loud noises to frighten off Rahu and make it vomit back the Sun he swallowed.

There are so many such tales from the past. But of course today we are not afraid of solar eclipses for we know what it really is.

It is indeed a very strange activity. We should not look directly at a solar eclipse with our naked eyes. Lunar eclipses also occur.

K. Abilashini, Grade 8V, BT/Vincent Girls’ High ,School,Batticaloa.
 

Most of us like to visit foreign countries. But only a few of us get the opportunity to do so. Even I dreamt of going abroad and my dream eventually came true.

When school holidays were given in August, my sister and I were very bored staying at home, but my mother gave us some very good news; we were going abroad. And it was not just any country, but to Singapore, a country that I love to visit. So, I waited impatiently and at last, the day of our journey dawned.

Unfortunately my father could not accompany us as he was busy. However, he took us to the airport. We were all very excited. The flight was at 12.00 midnight. When we got into the plane it was all dark.

When the plane took off, we could see the city of Colombo lit up with millions and millions of lights. I was very lucky to get a window seat. Since it was midnight we were allowed to sleep and when I woke up I was in a new country. It was Singapore.

As we were only staying for three days, we had to make the maximum use of time. So on the first day, we went to Sentosa Island. We had to enter the island by cable car. We went to see the dolphin show which was followed by a visit to the underwater world. You wouldn’t believe the size of the fish; they were huge. After that we went to see a movie. It was called ‘4D Magix’ as it had four dimensional pictures. Later we went to see the Singapore museum.

It showed us how Singapore developed from ancient times. The second day was also tiring. First we went on a city tour where we saw the botanical gardens, the Merlion, a temple of China and the Singapore Flyer. When you go right to the top of the Singapore Flyer, you can see the whole of Singapore. It was very enjoyable.

On the last day of our trip, we went on a river cruise and the rest of the day we went shopping. Later, at about 7.00 p.m. we went to the Singapore airport as our flight was at 10.00 p.m. The place was amazing with hundreds of shops.

We boarded our plane, Cathay Pacific and after three and a half hours of journey, arrived at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport. I was both happy and sad to return safely to Sri Lanka. I really and truly enjoyed my trip to Singapore and hope I’ll be able to go abroad once more.

Sumali Sumithraarachchi, Grade 9, Methodist College, Colombo 3.
 

Most of us take to reading as a hobby. We may have a favourite author whose style of writing we would enjoy reading very much.

I too like reading books. My favourite book is ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ which was written by an award-winning author, J. K. Rowling. She has completed seven books in the Harry Potter series. My favourite book is the second of the series.

This story tells us about a boy called Harry Potter and his best friends, Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger. They learn magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even though these kids are not more than twelve years of age, they have to learn a lot of life’s hard lessons and face a lot of problems.

This book also highlights how bravery, determination, hard work and good friends can help you to overcome any problems or struggles in life.I really like the main character of the story, Harry Potter.

This is because the character is about a brave and intelligent boy who has extraordinary talents and is committed to help others. He is in his second year at Hogwarts and performs magic to help others overcome trouble. Even though Harry lost his parents at a very young age and had to live with his mother’s sister and her wicked ‘muggle’ family (non-magic family) it doesn’t stop Harry from being a sweet natured, helpful boy.

His aunt and uncle did not like him going to Hogwarts to become a wizard. They forcefully locked him in a fairly big wardrobe under the staircase.But his friend Ron and his brothers came flying in their father’s magical car to rescue Harry and take him back to Hogwarts, after the summer holidays.

I like this book because it’s very thrilling and is full of magical experiences. It’s an interesting, mysterious story which introduces us to a world of magical creatures that exist only in our imagination.

There is a secret chamber in the castle and no one knows where it is, including Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. It was opened last fifty years back when a girl died. The climax of the story is centred around where the entrance to the chamber is, who opened it last and what the creature that lived inside it was and how Harry got through it.

At the end, Harry, Ron and Hermione get a lot of points for their house Gryffindor at Hogwarts, for overcoming trouble. They win the House Cup. I think that you too will enjoy this story if you read it.

Aanisha Thowfeek, Grade 9 B,Muslim Ladies’ College,Bambalapitiya.
 

Good health is the greatest wealth any person could have. Apart from doctors, nurses too contribute to offer this wealth to humankind through their noble service.

A dedicated nurse serve the sick with a kind and merciful attitude. She/he never puts her/his needs before that of the patient’s. A good nurse never ignores a request for care and assistance made by a patient.

Once the doctors’ prescribe the medicines and treatment for patients, it is the nurses who carry out their instructions in the wards.

It is the nurses who take care of the patients in the wards. Some nurses touch the hearts of the patients because of the good care they provide.

Sometimes patients are difficult to deal with and speak harshly to the nurses.

A good nurse should be tolerant and patient. She should never consider the patients as a nuisance.

A patient’s life may be in the hands of a nurse because it is she/he who must ensure that the proper medicine and care is given.

Sometimes nurses have no free time to even have their meals properly. They are always busy.

Nursing is a great service to humankind and is very meritorious according to all religions.

H.H.P. Dilani Kawshalya, Grade 8A,St. Thomas Girls’ High School,Matara.
 

My favourite subject is English. I like this subject because it’s interesting and easy. English is an international language. We should learn English because we must be able to communicate with any one in the world.

There are several other reasons why we should learn English. After we complete our education, and want to get employed we should be able to speak English well in order to get a good job. Normally when we go for an interview, we must be able to communicate in English.

We need to have a very good knowledge of the language to work in most companies. To work with computers too, we should have at least a basic knowledge of English. There are several ways to learn and improve our knowledge of English. First of all we must cultivate the habit of reading English books, papers, magazines and so on. If the knowledge gained by reading is not enough, we can join an English class and improve our knowledge.

Watching good English programmes such as the Discovery series and various children’s programmes on television will also help us to improve our English.

English is my favourite subject. I will learn it very well and brighten my future.

N.A.F. Nafla, Grade 9 A, St. Joseph’s Girls’ HighSchool, Colombo 14.
 

Our teachers at school are like our parents; they teach us to live properly in society. However, most teachers are not given due recognition for the great service they do. It is in this connection that a special day to honour teachers was declared by the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

We celebrated World Teachers’ Day on October 5.Teachers are the greatest people in the world. The lamp lit by the teacher gives light to the world in the future. So, we have to honour and appreciate teachers not only for just one day but everyday.

People will not be able to face the challenges of the world by disobeying their teachers. The most suitable example for this is given in the Guththila Kawyaya. Therefore, without disobeying our father, mother and teachers we should learn to step into a world created by them for us.

Their blessings are essential for us to succeed in life. I like to felicitate all the teachers who do a great service for all of us.

M. K. Ishara Chandrasena, Grade 9-D, Kularathna C. College, Godakawela.