It never occurred to me to think about my future job till I entered high school. In the years before high school, I ____ much on football and music. That was ___I spent most of my spare time. After I entered high school, my ___ for civil engineering (土木工程) inspired me to make greater efforts.

I found my way to civil engineering ___ when I read an article about the Los Angeles earthquake in 1994. Its consequence was so awful that I was totally shocked. During the earthquake, many buildings fell down. The disaster led to heavy casualties (伤亡). The ____sent me into thinking about how the building projects could be safer, and how I could get them that way. From then on, I ____to learn civil engineering. ____different kinds of buildings is a form of recreation for me. Sitting on my bicycle for hours watching the houses around me has made me feel the ____to shape our buildings into solid ones.

To achieve my ambition, I must ___that I can get high grades in all my subjects. In school, I am truly fond of science and good at math. ____, my high school years had been challenged. My poor writing skills used to ___me a lot. Fortunately, I had a strong wish to achieve my dream. It was the desire, which   ___me to keep practicing, that helped me overcome my shortcomings.

Over the years, I have learned to stick with things that I find right ____. This character will stay with me till my efforts ___. That, combined with my longstanding curiosity about ___our world, is what will make me a great civil engineer someday soon.

The end of high school can be a stressful time. You’re finishing up high school while also worrying about the next stage of your life. This often means applying to colleges and taking entrance exams, a process that _______ causes concerns. We are here to help walk you through the process.

Accept help

The university admissions process looks _______, especially if you’re facing it alone. Fortunately, though, you don’t have to feel _______. You can talk to a teacher you trust for help with making _______

If possible, talk through the admissions process with your family. Even if they have never been to a university, they’ll still care about you. Depend on them for emotional _______. It may also help to talk with friends and classmates about the process. _______ your emotions with others is a good way to lighten the burden of worry.

Care for your health

You may think you don’t have enough time to sleep, exercise or eat healthy food. But in fact, you’ll get more done in less time if you’re healthy enough to be _______. And _______, your physical health will affect your happiness more than academic achievements.

Manage your expectations

Apply to _______ schools so if you don’t get into your first choice, you have a backup plan. Also, understand that if you’re rejected (拒绝), it doesn’t mean you’re a bad student. At the best schools, qualified students sometimes don’t get in.

Besides, ________ isn’t everything. Your future depends more on how hard you work than on the school name written on your diploma. And you can get just as good an education at many less known schools as you can at the best-known ones.

And above all, remember that your ________ doesn’t depend on the results of college admissions. You are valuable and deeply loved, and no rejection can ________ that.

Over 3,000 people aged 50+ applied to university in 2019. But why are so many older adults _____ to the classroom? Maybe we can get some clues from Christina’s   _____ of undergraduate life.

Having quit the publishing industry in her fifties, Christina chose Nottingham Trent University to follow her _____ for animal biology.

“My background is in the arts, so I wanted to see if I could _____ science degree. I am definitely a mum figure to some of my course mates, but that’s fine —_____ grows in different ways. I have been invited to all the club nights and such which I haven’t really _____, but I have done lots of volunteering, so there have been plenty of _____ to extend my knowledge and experience.

“My family have been so _____ too — my husband has taken on lots of the housework so that I can _____. My daughter has been very helpful when I am _____ with the workload.

“I would _____ adult study to anyone, so they can feel connection and support . That is what I missed—going in _____ and having a bunch of people to talk to. It is really giving me the confidence to speak up again, to join in and be a _____ of society. I was shrinking inside the _____ world of my house. I feel a lot more 3D now.”

It is never too late to _____ something new, as Christina demonstrates.