Older generation has been thinking us as lazy individuals with no ambition. They often think we want everything handed to us. I don't think so.

First of all, let me introduce a nine-year-old girl named Hilde who spends her time running her own news reporting website, Orange Street News. Hilde created the website in 2014 when she was just seven years old with the help of her father and sister. However, this young girl is receiving negative comments from individuals on social media after she reported a piece of inappropriate news on her website. Several comments told the girl that she should be playing dolls instead.

There is no doubt that this is annoying. First, these comments belittle this girl by assuming that her only interests at this age should be to play with dolls. Clearly, she likes to write and report, which is why she created this website. Second 9 Hilde is doing something that she wants to do for you who think her age is a good indicator of her capabilities （能力）.

What's more, what I found most difficult to understand is that the majority of these comments are from people four times this girl's age. She is only nine years old and she blesses the world with proper grammar and spelling. If you're going to attack her for her freedom of speech, at least make your own grammar and spelling proper like hers.

I think that Hilde should be encouraged by their parents and communities, not discouraged because she reported the news instead of their local newspaper. We live in a world where information can be found in seconds9thanks to our modern technology. As a young writer myself, I am proud that Hilde is using her passion to make a difference in the world and put herself out there and she doesn't let these unkind words stop her from doing what she loves.

You cannot tell what I am capable of based on my age, nor can you tell what Hilde is capable because of hers.

Smiling can infect everyone and light up our day. Well, it was at the market at 5 pm — the worst time of day to shop. I had to pick up a few essentials after work: cream for coffee, eggs for breakfast and Advil for my headache.

I’d been rushing all day doing jobs for people. I did not want to be shopping, to say the least. But I told myself it was my last stop before going home to put my feet up.

So I scored (得到) a parking place, grabbed a bag from the trunk and found a shopping cart.

The market wasn’t as crowded as I had expected. I grabbed a package of linguini (意粉) and some pesto.

That’s when I saw her. She was sitting in a shopping cart. She looked to be maybe 9 months old. Short blond curls, blue eyes. A white lace dress and shiny black shoes.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Then I did what I always do with children: I gave her my best smile. I may have looked a bit mad, but it came from my heart.

That is a habit I formed long ago when I became a mother. It started with my first child, in that unforgettable, life-changing moment.

At times my smile would fade to a look of fear or worry, but it never left my face for long. It always came back, even through tears.

I’ve learned that everyone needs a smile sometimes, young and old, friends and strangers, even strangers at the market in a rush to get home.

She took her time deciding just what to make of my smile. But finally, she lit up.

I laughed and waved goodbye. And she blew me a kiss.

That put a smile on my face and I got a smile in return from every shopper I passed.

I was still smiling when I got home and realized I’d forgotten to get Advil. Luckily, I didn’t need it. My headache was gone.

Somehow, in that simple exchange of smiles, this weary (使人厌烦的) old world became a better place. Want to change the world? Try smiling. Someone will smile back at you. I guarantee it.

If you’re lucky, maybe they’ll even blow you a kiss and make your headache go away.