“There is a crack in everything. It is these cracks that allow light to get in.”(2) ... First and foremost, it is congruous to deduce that there is a crack in everything, from all the abovementioned cases and the logical reasoning. No one would have the temerity to assert his being omnipotent and having no drawbacks. However, it may be surprising to know there are actually benefits behind these defects. To link it to our daily life, this can be seen, for instance, a person who is extroverted and gregarious, and who may find it easy to expand his friend circle to meet a lot of new people. While enjoying the benefits being an extrovert, he might also be susceptible to the weakness brought by this characteristic, such as being oblivious of others' feelins as a result of long-term existence as the center of any conversation. He who is well liked by others fears less about falling the pariah among the people when joking about something offensive, hence hurting others' feelings without noticing it. By contrast, an introvert who may have paucity of friends apt to be more accomodating and obliging in helping others as he would want to ingratiate himself with them to eschew from being alone and is more sensitive due to longer time of contemplation. Despite being commented as reticent, people may feel that their feelings are more cared for when conversing with introverts. To draw a conclusion from this commonplace, it would be teneble to deem that there are two sides of the imperfections in our life, which in some cases, if utilised correcly, may as well be a desired factor and a feather in one's hat. An introvert, for example, who realize that he is favoured by people due to his kindness may find himself having few frinds but all of whom are staunch, as compared to the higher possibility of an extrovert to have more fair weather friends. ...

There is a crack in everything.(1) “There is a crack in everything. It is these cracks that allow light to get in.” To what extent do you agree with this assessment. You would not be surprised to find an insignificant speck on a piece of old clothes, a dark smear stained on marble floor, or a layer of dust on a pair of sneakers because it is the most commonplace to find a defect on things. Wherever we go, whatever we see, there always seem to be imperfections in the necessities we use and garment we wear. Even the nature, with its formidable power that moulds the earth and rocks into aesthetically remarkable art pieces, may apt to allow a few mistakes in the its splendors, such as the incongruous cracks in the fabulous, high-rise mountain ridges in Zhangjiajie, China. There seems, indeed, cracks in everything. However, it is these ubiquitous imperfections that make up ourselves and the environment that all of us are living in, and the same cracks that appear to be nuisances and disturbance can actually be the inspirations and guidance in some cases. This essay attempts to verify the statement by adopting a perspective from the existence of shortcomings and defects in all human-beings. I shall thus expound on the reasons why I agree to the statement to a large extent, including the bright side of the imperfections, the guidance they provides, and the illustration of individualities.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being in a single-child family. (A scene of a child smashing platters for fun.)This scene is commonplace in many single-child families, whose number is escalating in this low-birth rate world, where parents apt to wink at children’s misbehaviors, running the gamut from petty things like breaking platters for fun, to severe misconducts like shoplifting. The reason behind it can be simply deduced as parent’s being overly caring to their offspring, to an extent of spoiling. By contrary, however, parents’ entire devotion to cater the need of the children can also have a bright side, which is that the children who grow up as the princess or prince in the family have the opportunity to be immersed in an affectionate and convivial family, compared to the others who otherwise have to compete with their siblings for love from the parents. There are therefore, both boons and banes of being in a single-child family. One of the most common cons of being the only child of the family is the spoilage from the parents, as mentioned above, due to parents being overly concerned about the children and refrained from any possible scolding that may break the child’s soft and fragile heart, leading to adverse influence on the development of their impressionable minds. This pedagogy, however, usually proves to be more harmful than it is salutary for children to adopt the right values and become independent and responsible adults with morality and integrity. Take for instance, a spoiled child who grows up in the inundating love from his parents, grandparents, and even other related relatives, who may be forgiven for every mistake he makes and thus has no chance to learn the importance of responsibility as there are always ‘others’ who clean up the mess. The child may also have the priority on the table to eat anything he likes even if his gormandising the dishes has made him unhealthily obese. This being the case, children who grow up like this may inevitably become self-seeking individuals who are oblivious of other’s feelings and do not feel obliged to compensate for the consequences. They are deemed to be the epitome of good kids only in their families, and once they start to live in far-flung cities independently from their families, the karma of the spoilage will be seen, soon or late. Presumably, the consequences include being ostracised in the workplace, being dismissed by corporations here and there and they may eventually plunge into an abyss of either cynicism or self-doubt.

Terror Jane was in the hallway in the hospital, alone. There seemed no ending to the path, and windows on both sides appeared to be so dark and inactive, like the eyes of a dead man, the way in front leading to a cavernous darkness. With lights flickering on and off, it looked ever so gloomy to Jane. Sweat trickling down her back, Jane began to feel agitated, with her chestnut brown hair stuck to her brow, and her pupil enlarged, her brow knotted in apprehension. Why isn't there anyone here? She wondered. The cold air touched her throat like hands of the dead, leaving goosebumps all over her body. Petrified, she hastned as the sound of her high heels echoing in the hollow hallway, yet it seemed the windows around had not changed at all, all peering at her in such an eerie way that she dare not even cast a sidelong glance on them. Finally she saw the ending, and with a sort of relief, she darted towards it, as if to grasp some rope of hope to lift herself out of this haunting place. She stopped. To her terror, the expected door did not appear, all she was facing was a mossy, cracking wall. She heard a faint thud from behind, which drained all the blood from her face. Someone is near. The sound was approaching. It was so dull and loud that no human can have such footsteps. With every thud, her heart sank deeper, her lips trembling compulsively. Something is near. Gradually, a blurred contour appeared under the flickering lights. It had an odd shape that was larger on the top and thinner down, with two tentacles-like structure waving around. No. This is not suposed to happen to me. Yet it was approchaing with her every quickened inhalation and exhalation. The light flickered out.

a Love Story ⑺ "Is math homework hard today?" staring at Ruby's empty math paper, Marinne whispered in a quizzical tone, "I thought you'd finish at least half of it." "Er, sometimes, you know, I just don't have the right mood." "Oh, period?" "No, not really." Feeling embarrased, Ruby curtailed the conversation abruptly, "just do your work if you want to finish it today." Then, she stole a glance at the boy sitting across. Such a subtle movement, that almost no one would notice, yet Marinne did. When Ruby had long resumed her work, Marinne was still in meditation on her previous supposition. And then, to her dismay, the possibility of Ruby having a crush on the boy overweighed that she did not. No matter how hard she tried to discard the idea, it just kept hovering in her head. "What's in your mind? You have not written even a single word on your paper." Ruby asked, startled when she peeked at her side. "Nothing...never mind." Marinne mumbled, fighting back tears brimming in her eyes. "Why are you crying?" Ruby's tone sounded that she was taken aback. "It's nothing. It's just...the math questions are too hard that I'm despair at the sight of them." "You need my help?" "Yeah, can you lend me your paper to see?" "Sure. Next time just tell me." Ruby handed her paper. "Are you sure you're ok?" "Yeah, really. Don't worry about it." Marinne replied with her flawless, affected smile. "Alright." Seeming half convinced, Ruby went back to her work. Why did't you notice? Weren't you that perspicatious? Didn't you peek into my heart when I was reading your novel? Fine. Maybe it's time to give it up. So many insurmountable difficulties, and so many fantasies. Marinne thought, biting her lips. But how could she?

a Love Story ⑹ "So, how is your new novel, Ruby? The one about that weirdo Harry," retreated from the reminiscence, Marinne asked. Suddenly, Ruby's body became stiff near her. "He is not a weirdo! Harry is just...just too engrossed in his own world and cares less about other things,"Ruby's face turned scarlet as she denied with a fit of histrionics."Harry is not like others, he is...he is a covert diamond." This gave Marinne a shock as Ruby, the nonchalant Ruby, would by any means catapult someone to such exaggerated praise. "You know, Ruby," Marinne gazed at her with slight incredulity, "I'm not a good reader, to be sure. And most of the time I don't really understand your recondite diction in the novel. But still...I can feel that, the character Harry is like someone you depicted according to your preference for boys, or an ideal boyfriend, rather than some fancied creation. Your affection for him is bare to see from the lines." Stopping abruptly, Ruby gaped at Marinne for an instance as if some part of her secrets had been revealed, but then concealed whatever she felt with a poker face, and resumed their way to the downtown. "Yeah, that's right. Everyone would have his or her own desired type of the opposite gender, isn't it?" Ruby said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Is it so? Sorry, but I thought you are not the type of girl who would be interested in boys–or, any other human beings." Marinne jeered, a perverse smile hovering on her lips. "That's true enough," Ruby replied drily. Even if Ruby did feel shocked, she had disguised it well.Yet...yet there was a question mark hovering in Marinne's mind. She couldn't be interested in any particular guy, right? Not her...no. Contemplating, Marinne felt a rush of consternation, like rats, was gnawing and scratching inside her.

a Love Story ⑸ By the time she finished reading, the sky had purples down as sunlight dwindled at the horizon. Closing the notebook, Marinne felt like the most private part of her soul had been exposed , when the story still vividly played out in her mind. To her surprise, the eyes of Ruby, the reticent girl always sitting sedentary in the corner of the classroom, lighted up, envincing interst for the first time. "Didn't know you are so maudlin." "Yeah...I also had no idea. I've never cried for a story before." "Guess that's why Mr Merry said I'm gifted," she chuckled, adding luster to her usually emitional face and making her ever so adorable. Only then did Marinne realized Ruby's features were as lovely and delicate as a Japanese doll. After a pause, she continued, "I thought you'd disguise a fake smile, and praise my story. Then you'd think we are acquaintances." That's exactly what Marinne would do if the story was not so unexpecting, that her response nearly shocked herself. She had no idea why Ruby was so insightful as if she could see through her mind. Strangely but truely, she then developed a feeling of both discomfort and affection towards Ruby. That was how it started, that was the karma, that decided the ending at the very beginning.

a Love Story ⑷ 3 months ago, when the impression of Ruby for Marinne was no more than a name, tha latter had once passed by the former's seat, finding her writing something on her notebook. "Aiming to be a novelist, aren't you. Mr Merry also said in class that you were a gifted writer." The first conversation with a person should always start with an amicable greeting, that was what Marinne had learned from her past social experiences. "Just an amateur, trying to kill time." Ruby's tone was bland in contrast, showing not a trace of interst in Marinne. That was unexpected to Marinne, who could easily win a favour from others by her comely apperance and lively ways of speaking. But she did not give up, instead, she tried to push harder. "Wow, do I have the luck to appreciate your masterpiece?" This time, Ruby cocked her head to give Marinne a curious, direct look on the face, her eyes filled with incredibility. Eventually, Ruby retreated from the awkward staring and sighed, "Fine. But I promise you it is not interesting." The novel was about a girl who would bury her nose into the books rather than meeting any other people, who then fell in love with a boy and changed herself into a totally different person for him. As Marinne went through the story, her face turned taut with cathexis, tears pooling in her eyes. Despite the difficulties to decipher the recondite expressions, Marinne felt awe-stricken by the convoluted stories and the entangled emotions felt by the characters.