The Rocky Mountains are a large group of mountains on the North American continent(洲). The Rockies are found in the western part of North America. They stretch(连绵) from Canada in the north to the United States in the south. The southern part of the Rockies ends in the state of New Mexico.

The Rockies are the longest mountain range in North America. They have many high peaks(山峰). The highest is Mount Elbert in Colorado. It is three miles high.

In the summer, the Rockies are warm and dry, though it does rain sometimes. During the winter, the weather is wet and cold. Heavy winter snow falls in the higher parts of the Rockies.

Many people like to visit these mountains. They ride bikes, hike on trails, ski, or fish. A special area called Rocky Mountain National Park is in Colorado. The national park is reserved(留出) for people to visit. Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park can see the wild animals that live there. These animals include elk(麋鹿), moose(驼鹿), mountain goats, and mountain sheep.

In the summer, the Rockies are warm and dry, though it does rain sometimes. During the winter, the weather is wet and cold. Heavy winter snow falls in the higher parts of the Rockies.

Many people like to visit these mountains. They ride bikes, hike on trails, ski, or fish. A special area called Rocky Mountain National Park is in Colorado. The national park is reserved(留出) for people to visit. Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park can see the wild animals that live there. These animals include elk(麋鹿), moose(驼鹿), mountain goats, and mountain sheep.

Many people often lose their chance to live life to the fullest because of procrastination (延迟，拖延), which means that they always delay (使延迟) doing something that must be done at once. Moreover, because they often put off their plans till “tomorrow”, they are less likely to achieve their goals and will give up their dreams and goals finally. As a result, we can say that procrastination is the enemy of a progressive lifestyle.

Now that we know procrastination is something bad, why do some people not take immediate action? Well, there are some things that result in procrastination. Depending on someone else rather than doing by oneself is one of the things. Whenever you wait for something to happen before you act, you make it easier to delay your goals and dreams until “someday”. Another cause of procrastination is that people do not value each moment in their day. Actually, it’s surprising how much you can do if you just decide to do little things with the little time you have. Also those who often procrastinate can always find a good reason for something they refuse to do at once.

If you are one of those who often delay, then it’s time for you to make a decision to act now because things happen only when we decide to act. Get down to doing something like losing weight, saving money or spending more time with family. Don’t let these things continue to be a desire for you to do “someday”, but make a decision to do it at once.

Once you have made your decision, write down the plan and take action immediately. Making plans can help you think carefully about how you are going to do what you need to do. After understanding how to do what you want to do, get doing with the plan. It doesn’t matter how small the move you make is as the little things you do accumulate (累积) over time and move you to be closer to your goals. So, don’t wait until tomorrow; instead, start now! Just make use of every moment you have to do something that is helpful in realizing your dreams and goals.

Here is a challenge that will also move you to be closer to your dreams and goals if taken seriously. Make a list of ten things you have been putting off. It could be anything from getting a health examination, calling a friend or family member, to getting the car fixed and cleaning up the garbage, etc. And then try to develop the habit of doing them immediately!

What is it like to grow up?

As you grow older, there will be certain events that will mark your growth. Graduating from high school and getting your first job are just a few of these. What are some other ways in which we mark our journey toward adulthood?

In the US, getting your driver’s license (执照) at the age of 16 is seen as a major coming-of-age (成人) ritual (仪式). You may have seen kids celebrating their first car in movies and TV shows. It is the first true taste of independence for most teenagers. But not every teenager gets a car right away. Usually, their parents will buy a second-hand car for them as their first car.

Another big coming-of-age event is the prom (毕业舞会). Held at the end of the year, the prom is a graduation celebration for senior high school students. Teenagers wear fancy clothing, ask each other to dance and vote (投票) for a prom “king” and “queen”. For many teenagers, prom is the biggest social event of the year. It’s a time for them to dress and act like an adult.

And there’s still more. At the age of 18, we can vote in the US － and at 21, we can drink alcohol (酒). This is also the time when most children move out of their parents’ home for college or work.

It is around this age that society starts to consider us to be adults. But what does it really mean to be an adult?

Psychologist Jeffrey Arnett surveyed young adults and found three common adulthood goals: taking responsibility for yourself, making independent decisions, and being financially (经济上) independent.

I agree with Arnett. Being an adult has more to do with one’s maturity (成熟). If you want to drive, vote, drink, leave home or even start a romantic relationship, you have to make sure that you’re ready to be responsible.