Sunday； November 04； 2007
Since I became a member of the study department in the student Union； I have done many concrete things with my colleagues such as painting posters； designing questionnaires。 We took delight in cooperating to do our tasks better。
Our beloved minister； Jessica； was about to have her farm study （which means living in farmers’ house for 1 week； to help with farmers and apply what are learnt from books to practice and carry out research。 And it is a tradition of our school which last for roughly 20 years。）； so it was important to choose someone among us to take her position temporarily to ensure that everything went smoothly。
Thus Jessica began a small election campaign today and all of us had prepared to run for the position。 Each candidate gave a concise speech within 2 minutes to convince others of his ability。
After Jessica had read all the votes handed in； she announced： “Two of you； Juliet and Mary； who have got the same votes； are about to be the deputy minister when I am in the countryside。” Therefore； I rose to power as the deputy minister。
It had never occurred to me that a minister has that much to deal with only when I was in the position。 For instance； there was a meeting held by the study department for students to get access to the administrators of the school so that proposal can be put forward or problems can be reflected in time。 The supervisor of the Students Union made demands on our department of a report containing students’ suggestions and questions together with the leaders’ responses。 Thus recording scripts of the meeting （I had also taken part in recording） and tasks must be distributed to every member。
After a negotiation with Mary； the other deputy minister； we arrived at a consensus that she was responsible for distribution while I should receive emails of their drafts and make them into a final formal version； which must be handed in before Sunday evening。
Today； the result of things accords closely with my prediction。 Though they were seemingly enthusiastic to accept their task the day before yesterday on which the election was held； two text messages plaining how much trouble they had to touch the puter or how slow it was for them to input articles on puter appeared on my mobile phone。 Though such attitudes annoyed me； I only suggested them to try and think of a best way to solve the problem in a gentle manner。 Fortunately； because of my clever foresight； I still reserve a copy of my script of the meeting which can be served as a back up in case they wouldn’t do a good job。 It definitely means that I have to sacrifice much more time for the report since both the input work and modification have to be done on my own。
To my surprise； when I open my email box this evening； two drafts are already waiting for me。 It seems that they are still willing to do the task and their earlier plaint only serves as abreaction。 Glad that I only admonished them to do instead of losing temper to them； or it may did more harm than good。
I replied an encouragement letter to them and they later expressed their thankfulness which made me feel warm。
From this event； I learnt the lesson that a leader should take his or her staff member’s feeling into account； sometimes gentle words can be more effective than shouting。
I will adjust myself to being a deputy minister and try to convince other members of my ability and make them willing to obey my instructions。 I believe I can do it well。
Vengeance； greed and …
Saturday； April 12； 2008
Today I got a break from my strict； noruffles schedule and watched a movie entitled “Troy”。 The film was so fascinating that it engraved its inspiring dialogues on my mind。 I found it hard to resist the strong desire to write down my erupting thoughts and emotions inspired by the movie。
After Achilles； the bravest and most skillful warrior and one of the kings of Greece； kills Hector （the movie’s hero and prince of Troy）； Briseis； the woman Achilles deeply in love with and cousin of Hector； condemns him for his unyielding vengeance with a broken heart： “You lost your cousin； now you’ve taken mine。 When will it end？” “It never ends。” This is the cold reply from Achilles； a man born to fight； yet the endless revenge is the cruel reality。 Sometimes； humans are misled by too many things； such as greed； hatred。 Sense of revenge is the devil that manipulates humans into destroying。 Unfortunately humans all forget that tolerance is the most powerful weapon against vengeance。
“The gods envy us。 They envy us because we are mortals； because any moment may be our last。 Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed。” This is what Achilles tells Briseis when they argue over the issue of belief in gods。 Achilles philosophy is apparent： Mortal life is ephemeral； yet impermanence is exactly where the beauty lies in life。
The movie offered a new cause of the war contrary to the archaic way of interpreting the reason for the war of Troy； which claimed that the beauty Helen is the bane of peace。 In fact； there is no such a thing as beauty bane。 It was not her fault； a marriage to an old man like Menelaus was a disaster for a young beauty dreaming of romance。 She has the right to pursue freedom and happiness。 It is Agamemnon who is to be blamed for the casualty。 Even regardless of Helen； his greed and evilness will still enkindle the war between Greece and Troy。 Agamemnon says it all： “I always thought my brother’s wife was a foolish woman but she has proved to be very useful。” From this we know； Helen only served as an excuse。 The true reason for the war of Troy is Agamemnon’s desire to control the Aegean。
As for Paris； I disdain him。 He is the man who impudently caused catastrophe but doesn’t dare to take responsibility。 The coward sought his brother’s help； dropping to his knees。
Now let’s e to the two legendary heroes in the war； Hector and Achilles。 Achilles is a man haunted by the vastness of eternity； or else he will not be persuaded by Odysseus’ words： “let Achilles fight for honor； let Agamemnon fight for power； and let the gods decide which man to glorify。” Despite his eagerness for war； he is not a blood thirsty brute； he has the ability to empathize with the suffering of other characters。 For example； when Priam； king of Troy sneaks to beg him for Hector’s body； even if Achilles can have Priam’s head on a spit in the blink of an eye； he still lets Priam go with his adversary’s corpse。 And Hector is more respectful。 He loved his family； his land； he fought for his country till the last moment。 They both are immortal in certain ways and their deeds are worthy of emulation。
During the time of preparation for TOEFL iBT； I have written many positions to improve my writing （Make a plaint in Person or in Writing；Who is the Famous Entertainer or Athlete You would Like to Meet？ Member ；puters VS。 Traditional Schools） are selected from my practicing positions for TOEFL。
Make a plaint in p…
When it es to the point of having to make a plaint about a defective product or poor service； I would rather do it in writing for several conspicuous factors listed as follows：
First of all； a plaint