My parents took me to Japan when I was little. I lived there for five years. when I came back, my
Japanese was very good. "Can I do something useful with my Japanese?" I asked myself. Then, one day last
spring, I got a good opportunity (机会). Everyone was afraid of SARS, so I stayed at home with nothing to do.
My father brought me a Japanese book. "Why don't you translate it into Chinese? It will be better than playing
computer games all day." I promised (许诺) to do 2,000 words each day. But soon I found it was hard to
keep the promise. One day in May, the weather was beautiful. But I couldn't go out. Those 2,000 words were
still waiting for me. After translating only three pages, I already lost interest in the book. I looked at it for a long time.
But I couldn't make myself turn the pages. How wished I could just go outside and play football with my
friends! I counted the words again and again. I just wanted to give up. I felt as if two people were fighting
in my mind. One said, "Don't give up! Keep working hard, and you'll do well!" But then the other one said,
"Go and play! It will be more fun than translating. Do you work tomorrow." I stood up and would turn off
the computer. But then I remember what
my parents had told me:"Whatever you do, don't stop halfway." So
I sat down and went on with it.