C'est la vie...

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For a freshman in college, you need to have some fun. Don't worry about those classic novels or other masterpieces in English. If reading classics is not fun for you, why bother? Find something you love to read, something that worth burning the late night oil, something to die for. Learning English is supposed to be a journey full of adventure and excitement instead of a task to fulfill as part of your plan to land a job. Don't lose your hope to master English language. You can do it since thousands and thousands of Chinese students have done it!

Let me put it in this way: At the bottom of a mountain, you are intimidated and clueless about how to reach the top. However, if you simply choose a path that suits your needs and start climbing, you might find breathtaking sceneries along the way and even a significant other who cherishes the same dream. When you finally stand on the top, you will have a broad vision and a clear plan for your future. Nobody can do it for you. Even a published map may not help your cause. You have to make tough decisions by yourself and that's part of your maturing process.

I noticed that your original message was written in Chinese. Why not use English to communicate with others? Why not grasp any opportunity to practice what you have learned? Why not start today? A baby step everyday should complete a long journey in due time. Enjoy every minute of it!

Anyone can dream about his or her future. But to convert a dream into reality that succeeds and flourishes isn't so easy. You need a long-term plan. In my opinion, you must:

Set Realistic Goals
You need goals in order to measure any progress in your endeavor. Drastic improvement won't happen overnight. There is no free lunch...it takes hard work and realistic goal setting. First give yourself an objective assessment. What are your strength and your weakness? Are there proven method to upgrade yourself? Realistic goals come from a well thought out plan, which leads to measurable performance that can build up your self-confidence. You should have short and long term goals. The short-term goals will cover the upcoming 6 months to 2 years. Your long-term goals will go out further let's say over the next five years. Remember, you need to give your plan some time to prove itself. Give it a real chance. Not all plans make a gigantic effect immediately.

Fully Commit to Your Plans
You have to be prepared to put your heart and soul into what you are doing. If you truly believe in your goals, you are expecting to work long hours, be ready to go without treats such as holidays, for what may seem like an endless stretch of time, in order to accomplish your goals. For example, since you mentioned that "there are too many new words in classic novels", you might consider establishing a rigorous schedule to memorize new words and increase your vocabulary. Do it during lunch breaks, during bike-ridings, during your birthday parties, before and after your dates.

Persevere
People commit themselves to all kinds of things under the sun. Just making a commitment to a realistic goal without any concrete contribution doesn't automatically lead to success. You also need to have desire to improve yourself, drive to outperform others, discipline to avoid distractions, and determination to wage an all-out war against your weakness. Not only should you be hungry for practical ideas, but you also have to be able to execute them. You have to be tenacious. Desire and drive alone are nice but not enough to reach the top. You don't want your performance to be a temporary comet streaking across the sky. Discipline and determination are what give successful people the endurance to follow through on their ideas, and weather the storms and calms of the learning curve.