Some pieces of work of our students while preparing for Maturita Exam. The task – Write an article about “The most useful thing I have ever learned.”
The most useful thing I have ever learned…
Many people say, that they learnt the most useful things in nursery. That´s true. Many things we do without thinking every day, were not always so automatic for us. For example laces on the shoes or to put the right arm into the right sleeve. On the other hand these things are only of practical use. As for the moral and psychical part of our life I trust the best teacher of all – life itself.
I will always remember the main message I got from him: „Be good to other people, because it will come back to you, when you need it.“
Moreover „to be good“ has much more meanings. You can at least behave politely, make some good deeds (…and even the smallest count! :-) or just smile! It always helps. Add your smile to a greeting and you can make somebody´s day better. And believe me, that you receive some smile stoo, when you have just a bad day.
However, be careful! As well life´s taught me, that this rule works the other way round too. So don´t do anything, that you don´t want to be done to you…
Eliška Králová, oktáva A
The most useful thing I have ever learned
People tend to claim that they have learned a lot of things throughout their lives that were of no use. Yet have you ever thought of what proved to be the most useful thing you have ever learned? It can be anything from cooking to a mathematical formula but for me it was to listen.
When I was younger I used to be all around the place, laughing, bursting with honesty and relatively careless. It is an undeniably pleasant state of mind. Who wouldn't like to share all the amazing things one found out and opinions one worked out. Why should I care what others like? This attitude couldn't last for long.
Several embarrassing situations were just enough for me to realize that this wasn't right. I started looking for the right way to communicate. I watched my surroundings and analyzed what was happening around me. While doing that I was struck to find out that the quieter I was the more I listened and the more I listened the more I found out.
It was, however, not only that which tempted me to listen. I admired people who managed to maintain their privacy and about whom I didn't know anything bad. This didn't make them aloof or unreachable but a very pleasant company. I noticed that this can be achieved through moderate and restrained speech and listening to people who aren't too close to us. All the same, this attitude is very considerate when socializing with the ones we love as well.
All in all, I believe that everybody has their own way of understanding the most useful thing they have ever learned. I assume though that listening could be useful for anybody in today's society. In my case, it certainly made me a happier person.
Renáta Chalupská, oktáva A
The most useful thing I have ever learned
The most useful thing I've ever learned is undoubtedly to say 'thank you' and 'please'. The politeness is the base of being a good person. It's also necessary to behave well in every single situation and be kind to the other people.
Perhaps it's a bit naive image of the society but it's not impossible. If everyone tries at least not to be vulgar and rude the world will be much nicer. In my opinion the lessons of polite behavior should be compulsory in order to avoid many faux-pas and embarrassing moments.
Last but not least I want to mention the meaning of good behavior. People who are kind and decent have better opportunities to get a good job or to be invited to some important occasions. It's easier to make friends and to maintain good relations with the others, too.
Finally I'd like to thank my mother to teach me to be polite and fair. For me it's the most important thing I've ever learned and I hope I'm not the only one with this kind of old-fashioned view.
Viki Sloupová, oktáva A
The most useful thing I‘ve ever learned
When it comes to skills I’ve obtained during my life, there is a certain set of abilities, which I found very useful in a few situations I’ve been in.
As eleven-year-old I became a member of the local group of the Water Rescue Service (Vodní Záchranná Služba). It is a non-profit organisation, which associates individuals interested in the same thing – and that is saving people’s lives.
During my years in organisation I’ve been taught how to provide the first aid to anyone, who might need it, and not only when it comes to drowning people (as the “Water Rescue” part might suggest). My instructors gave me a wide range of actions that might need to be taken, when you approach a hurt person, or a person, whose life is endangered, in order to save their health, possessions, or even life.
I know, for example, how to stop the bleeding, how to fixate a broken limb, or how to treat burns of various degrees. I can provide a CPR to a heart attack victim, or help drowning swimmers, who overestimated their swimming abilities.
Those skills have proven useful many times, and not only at rescue competitions, where we usually belong to the best teams, but during the shift on the actual rescue station as well.
I am really thankful for everything Water Rescue Service’s given me, and I’m doing my best to pay it back (by taking part in many events and teaching kids how to swim), because only thanks to the other (voluntary!) members I have the knowledge and courage to help anyone, who might ever need it.
Vojta Milota, oktáva A
