Should I be allowed to make my own decisions? Many teenagers have hobbies. But sometimes these hobbies can get in the way of schoolwork, and parents might worry about their childs success at school. Teenagers often think they should be allowed to practice their hobbies as much as they want. Do you agree? Liu Yu, a fifteen-year-old boy from Shandong, is a running star. He is on his school running team and has always wanted to be a professional athlete. However, his parents wont allow him to train as much as he would like to. ”Of course we want to see Liu Yu achieve his dreams,” says Mr Liu, ”and we know how much he loves running. Thats great, and my wife and I have watched him in every one of his races. We have nothing against running! But we do think that our son needs to be realistic. Now that he is getting older, he needs to think about what will happen is he doesnt become a professional runner in the end.” Liu Yu doesnt really agree. “Well, I think I should be allowed to make decisions for myself,“ he says. “My parents have always taught me the importance of working hard and not just to do what I enjoy. I understand this. But Im serious about running. Being a professional runner is the only thing I have ever wanted to do.“Mr and Mrs Liu believe that Liu Yu should study hard in the evening, and so they dont allow him to practice running on school nights.“ I know this might seem strict,“ says Mrs Liu, “but we think were doing the right thing. He has to understand that very few people can become professional athletes. Its a very difficult dream to achieve. We dont allow him to practice every day because we think he needs to spend time on his homework.“But Liu Yu still doesnt agree.“ I know my parents care about me, “he says. “But they are always talking about what will happen if I dont succeed. But I will succeed! I think I should be allowed to make this decision for myself. Only then will I have a chance of achieving my dream.“