The Speak Up Series | Episode 2 : Life Lessons ​Hey folks! ​It’s time to get loud! 📣 Welcome to a new episode of the Speak Up Series. ​The goal here is simple: 60 seconds of speaking, zero overthinking. This is a Zero Judgment Zone—we don't care about perfect grammar; we just want to hear your thoughts and your personality! ​Today’s Challenge: ​"What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Who gave it to you, and how has it changed your life?" ​How to Participate: • ​Record: Grab your phone and record a 60-second clip. Psst: Don't sweat the clock—if you get carried away because you love the topic, feel free to go longer! • ​Format: Video 🎥 is awesome, but Audio 🎙️ is perfect if you’re having a messy hair day. • ​Connect: Listen to other person’s story and give them some love in the comments. ​Ready? Go!

I just finished my English Camp speaking class, and I’m so happy! Today’s topic was Christmas—such a fun theme, especially with Christmas right around the corner 🎄. In class, Coach Chris talked about how people celebrate Christmas in their communities: rocking Christmas hats, festive crazy socks, and those hilarious "ugly Christmas sweaters". Then we moved on to Christmas carols! Since we don’t really celebrate Christmas in China, most of us only know Jingle Bells—it’s super popular and easy to sing along to. Chris picked a few songs like All I Want for Christmas Is You, Blue Christmas, Jingle Bells and Jingle Bells Rock, and he taught us the last two. Singing along with him was so much fun (even with the lyrics, we sometimes messed it up, and we even lagged behind the rhythm a little)—I couldn’t stop laughing! 🤣🤣🤣All of us laughed loudly!! I totally felt the Christmas vibe. Just wanted to share this happy moment with you all. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance! A huge thank you to Coach Chris too! I also really hope it snows here soon—snow would be perfect for Christmas! Imagine the vibe: people gathering at home, singing carols, exchanging gifts, sending warm wishes, and enjoying a nice dinner, while a crisp chill lingers outside. It would make the reunion feel so much warmer. Wow, that sounds amazing!!! As I grow up, I’ve come to realize that festivals are more than just a time for celebration—they’re also a reason to hold beautiful expectations for the year ahead. It’s such a touching feeling❤️. And you know what? I'm humming the Jingle Bells Rock as I'm writing this post!!😁