Being in the school’s science lab can be exciting, because you’re doing something different from sitting at your desk listening to your teacher. But fun as lab work is, you have to observe the safety rules if you don’t want to hurt yourself or your lab partner.

The first rule is to behave responsibly in the laboratory at all times. When your teacher is showing you lab equipment, listen to what he is telling you, because some of the equipment can be dangerous. Become familiar with your lab assignment (任务) before you start doing it. This means reading everything the teacher has written down and asking questions if you don’t understand an instruction or a term. Do not try to work alone. If your partner is absent, let your teacher know so she can assign another student to work with you. And don’t do any other experiments other than what you have been assigned. Wear your lab apron (围裙) and safety goggles (护目镜) whenever you are working on a lab assignment. On lab days, wear old clothing that you won’t mind getting damaged. Make sure this clothing covers as much of your skin as possible. Keep your hands away from your skin, face, eyes and mouth when you are working with dangerous chemicals. You will be working with fire in the lab with an alcohol lamp. Use gloves when handling hot lab equipment. If you have long hair, pull it back in a ponytail (马尾辫) and roll up long sleeves. Don’t put paper, chemicals, lab equipment or any part of your body in the flame. When you use a sharp instrument, treat it with care. Do not point it at yourself or any one of your fellow classmates during the experiment.

My teacher said to a student: “Give me your phone.”

We all looked in surprise. Kyle, a student who I never saw text in class, gave the teacher his phone.

When the teacher left, two students who I often saw text in class started boasting about how they sent text messages and never got caught. “Kyle, you don’t text in class that way!” one of them said. “I put my phone under my desk so it looks like I’m looking at my textbooks.”

“Isn’t it funny that we always text and never get caught, but the first time Kyle does it, he gets caught?” the other one laughed.

They must have thought they were smart, because they never got caught and Kyle did. But which situation is worse: getting caught, or getting away with it? Rules are there for a reason. These two students might not have got caught, but neither of them had good grades. They keep texting in class, not paying any attention. I think they will keep breaking the rules in the future.

People don’t just break the law and get thrown into jail right away. They take it one step at a time, starting with smaller rules. Kyle might have got caught, but at least he learned a good lesson. He will not break the rules in the future, so he will learn more in class and stay out of trouble. It’s smarter not to break the rules.

Starting high school is a great experience for any teenager. Whether you are coming from a middle school (grades six through eight) or a junior high school (grades seven through nine), there are many things about high school that are different from your old school environment. 【小题1】

You will face being in a new school, making new friends in an unfamiliar class and getting to know new teachers. These new teachers will usually have higher academic level than your middle and junior high school teachers. 【小题2】 In return, they expect you to work hard and develop your skills.

On top of all this, peer pressure to drink and smoke often increases in high school. 【小题3】

Although there is a lot of pressure, it is nothing you cannot deal with. If you are feeling pressure to do something that you feel is wrong, talk to a friend, parent or counselor to find a solution. 【小题4】If you are not succeeding academically, find someone to help you. If you feel lonely, try to join a school club or group to make new friends.

【小题5】With time you will come to be thankful for everything about your experience. On the point of starting your high school, are you ready?