2. About Myself*

Hi! I am Anthony Popov, Tony for short. I'm sixteen but this year I'm finishing school. I went to study at the age of six, because my mum did not know what to do with me. I could read and write by that time, drove the whole family mad with my questions and had a lot of unused energy. So I was sent to school and my parents could relax a little. But my teacher began to use valerian drops very soon. I wasn't a hooligan, but a rather adventurous boy. All troubles, all bumps, all black eyes and scratches were mine. I was a great explorer that time. I was eager to learn everything. Sometimes the results were quite unexpected. It's strange enough, but having such a hectic life I studied very well. And at last my parents got a fine idea: I should do some kind of sports. I chose figure skating. I think I had some abilities. Though I was the eldest boy in our group and I began skating much later and could do nothing. But I used to be among the first everywhere. All my energy was spent to cope with the skates and those figures that we should do. But only in spring I heard the first words of approval of my coach. I was satisfied. My classmates enjoyed hockey and football, wrestling and boxing but I liked music and applause. And besides, one should be very strong to do all those leaps and rotations. My results grew and my height grew too. At 14 I became too tall for figure skating. I gave up it because I couldn't move graciously.

And by that time I discovered a new world for me – the world of computers. As both my mum and my dad are computer programmers they often discuss their professional problems. And we have two PCs at home. When I showed some interest for their work the parents were delighted. I always thought that they were a bit dull, boring and sometimes even silly. But now I know my folks are great people. They have a superb sense of humour. Never mind they sometimes grumble at me. I think I deserve it. My daddy is Jack-of-all-trades. It's thanks to him I can repair everything at home and know a lot about cars. My mum teaches me cooking. She says all great cooks are men. So I strike the girls of our class with different culinary secrets. My parents teach me to do everything perfectly. But frankly speaking I am not an example pupil and, moreover, I don't want to be such a person. I don't want to waste my time cramming things I am not interested in. I am good at Maths and Computer Science, Physics and English but I can't stand Literature (mainly because it is taught awfully dull) and Chemistry. If I have some free time I prefer to read the next fantasy book or some detective story or to watch TV. I have several favourite programmes – "What, Where and When", "Witted boys and girls", information and sport programmes and of course programmes about music and singers.

My classmates are nice people. They know a lot and it's always interesting with them. But I have only one bosom friend – Phillip or Phil for short. We both are a bit crazy on computers. We are going to study at the Ural State University. But I've chosen the faculty of Economy and Management and Phil is going to enter the faculty of Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics. So we have to work hard this year to get ready for our entrance exams. Sometimes I am so exhausted with all that amount of work I should do that I have the only wish – to drag myself to the sofa, fall down on it and think about nothing. So my life is rather vivid and not dull, though not always very enjoyable. But as a famous Russian proverb says - "Business before pleasure". When I get my membership student card I'll be really happy.