Chen Tingwang, Class 9, Senior 2, Shenzhen Foreign Languages School Instructed by Yang Suning My story begins with a childhood memory. In my hometown Maoming City, Guangdong Province, where we can see stars twinkling in the sky, I first observed the Milky Way. It’s just like velvet ornamented with diamonds. I immediately went into ecstasy. It was hard for a city child to recognize the stars. I couldn’t tell the difference between Mars and Venus although they were the most familiar planets to people. This made them more mysterious. Furthermore, the ancient Greek myths and Chinese legends that I had read left me with the impression that each star had its own romantic story. My dad, who is an amateur observer, bought a simple telescope when I was a third grader. He took me, together with the whole family, to observe the Moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It was a beautiful night. My heart flipped when the sapphire moonlight touched my skin. I had watched the photo of the Moon before but it proved to be unforgettable when seen with my own eyes. Nevertheless, my dad never told me any professional information. After going to SFLS, I joined the observatory and learned more about astronomy. The students who know the most act as teachers and do all they can to share their knowledge about the universe with us. We even got a chance to observe the Mars. It’s a pity that I left in a hurry just because I was afraid of being late for self-study at night. In retrospect, there are many things that have given rise to my passion for astronomy. It is what I have experienced that has shaped my personality. I always appreciate this little treasure and greet the surprises with delight. | 