Shengliver’s Note: Because the graduating classes were taking a mock test towards the end of May, Year 10 and Year 11 classes got a longer weekend — Saturday, Sunday and Monday. When the break was over, the teen writer Chengfan became wiser. It dawned on her that making a plan is one thing; executing it another.
You cannot imagine how excited I was before this longer weekend came around.
On Friday I had planned a lot for it. I planned to sort out all my homework on Saturday. I planned to sleep late until 12 on Sunday. I planned to go swimming with my cousin on Sunday afternoon and to go shopping with my parents that evening. On Monday morning I planned to get up at 6. Then I would go climbing a mountain with my good friends. After the hike, we would treat ourselves to a big meal at a restaurant. What a wonderful weekend it would be!
Right now, I am penning this journal entry back in the classroom. It is Monday evening. We have come back for the evening classes. The truth is, however, that none of my grand plans materialised.
On Saturday night, I was watching a lively programme on TV. I told myself I must tear myself away to get my homework done. The show, however, was so mesmerising that I did not turn off the box until after midnight.
The next morning found me swimming in my sweet dreams. When my mother woke me up at 8 am, I was so tired. After breakfast I could not concentrate on my homework for hours. After lunch, I called up my cousin and asked her whether she had time to go swimming with me. She said sorry to me because she would go to the People’s Park with her classmates. Since there was nothing fun to do around the house, I went back to my room to nap for a while. By the time I woke up from the nap, it was time to eat dinner. How foolish I was! And I still had not finished my homework by the time. I wanted to die!
Today, Monday, all my family members were out at work, so nobody roused me in the morning. I slept hours away. I think you can guess when I arose, Shengliver. What happened to the planned mountain hike and the dinner date with my friends? There was no trace of them at all.
My dear weekend, I am sorry for making you see all my ambitious plans come to nothing.
Shengliver Studio 
I’m thinking that you are sleeping some to escape rather than just gain needed rest.
You’ve got it right, sir. The teen writer was binge sleeping, IMO. A typical Chinese high schooler spends tons of hours on his lessons once school starts. He does suffer from a heavy sleep debt.
No wonder that the longer weekend allowed the teen to catch up on sleep. We Chinese badly need a more balanced ed system, like yours.
I always say it’s better to compete with oneself rather than lose sleep about who else is better than me.
I could not agree more. A lot of misery results from comparing oneself constantly with others.