Ever since I decided to go to America for college, I have been bombarded with sarcastic jokes about their criteria for accepting students. The American universities’ emphasis on passion and leadership has “bullied” me into participating in endless activities. This could be frustrating at times, but not always.

In our fast-paced, technologically advanced society, the prevalence of processed foods on supermarket shelves has skyrocketed, leading to an increase in diet-associated diseases. Even many restaurants have begun to replace freshly cooked dishes with premade ones to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This trend towards convenience has alerted health-minded members of the public.

This poem discusses the brevity of life and the inevitability of death. Using “wind” as a metaphor for death, the work discusses how hasty death comes and how subtle it is when it arrives. The image of wind coming from far beyond the horizon represents how we all have started a countdown from the beginning of our lives. Regardless of who we are, death patiently awaits us all.

Chinese students might experience a culture shock in class when they first arrive in the United States. It is mainly manifested in three aspects: the class choice, the lecture atmosphere, and the afterschool workload. Together, they form an instructive system where students are expected to be self-driven and highly motivated in their own education.

In Chen Lang’s essay in memory of her late husband, Xu Xiaohong, associate professor of sociology at the University of Michigan, the devastated widow pays tribute to Xu’s talent and diligence, while revealing her own endurance and sacrifice.