The tempo¹ of modern civilization has been much quickened in the last twenty years. While witnessing the dramatic changes in the better-off society, people begin to reconsider the question of "survival". "Survival" in the old sense does not bother us anymore. Instead, we are more concerned about how to "survive" in the human world full of competition.

Competition always carries abreast² challenges and opportunities to everyone involved. It might appear in an entrance exam, in a regular class, or in a small public speech. Those who fail to detect its real nature-whether an opportunity or a challenge a competition really is- will lose something more or less conducive³ to our growth. Of course, if we take the competition as an opportunity, we will favor it intentionally⁴ because they can help us outstand from the average; they will make us become the focus of public attention; they will grant us more chances and rights to succeed. As a matter of fact, opportunities are supposed to be more perceptible and welcoming than challenges. The truth is, however, we will lose more opportunities when we choose to take the "opportunity" fork at the crossroads. The other fork, ignored by us and defined as "fearful challenges", offers much more chances for the walker in competition.

We have such an inclination⁵ in life to overestimate⁶ ourselves and hold a thoughtless attitude towards the negative outlook of things.

We believe in the old saying, "Opportunity knocks but just once," so we always welcome it and devote all our spirit and efforts to it. The most devout⁷ believer of this saying are the graduates. Why? There are quite a number of them who pay full attention to positions in big cities and are willing to flood into developed areas under any circumstances, even though there will be too much uncertainty⁸ for their choices. Innumerable cases go straight to the same miserable⁹ end: God seems to refuse to help too many of His worshipers.

In conclusion, to define the quality of competition seems to be far from valuable sense, for no matter what a competition is, an opportunity or a challenge, it will create nutritious¹⁰ elements for our growth.

So take a positive look at everything around. Keep our face to the sunshine, and we will not see the shadows.

在机会面前有五种人，第一种人创造机会，第二种人寻找机会，第三种人等待机会，第四种人错过机会，第五种人漠视机会。我们如果做不了第一种人，至少要主动去寻找机会。

In front of challenge there are 5 players.

The first player creates opportunity.

The second one attempts opportunity.

The third waits for an opportunity coming, sitting there and crossing his fingers.:)

How about the next one, the fourth player? He just simply misses the opportunity.

Worse ever, the last contender ignores an opportunity under his eyes.

If we don't have guts¹¹ to be the first player, at least, we can push out well-prepared to grasp any possible opportunity as does the second player.