Are we on the Net yet?

This is one of a series of letters written in the years 2002 to 2006 to a foreign advice columnist at 21st Century, an English newspaper published weekly by the China Daily.

When college turns out not to be the theme park of top professors and stellar discussion that students expected before admission, students stray. They see poetry-perfect girls or pop-star look-alike boys sitting across the classroom and it’s a scientific fact that everyone else on campus is already dating.

Their roommates hold all-night computer game tournaments or leave campus for group shopping trips. Joanna, once inclined to make study her top priority, wrote to the 21st Century “Just Ask” advice column in 2003 that she was succumbing to the Internet:

Dear Ralph,

I'm a college student. I was always a hard-working student, but now I find that I can't put myself into study wholeheartedly. As the final exams were coming, I was very worried about my study. Maybe I relax too much. Several months ago, I learned to surf the Internet. Soon, it became my favorite hobby. When I don't want to study, I will go to the Net bar to chat with others.

I spent too much time and money on it. Although I tried to control myself not to surf on line so often, I can't resist the temptation of the Internet. When I thought that my parents put all their hopes on me, I felt very ashamed of my action. (Author’s addition: Parents usually pay full tuition, room and board in China.) But sometimes I just can't control myself, and I only want to find pleasure on the Internet. I'm very worried about my study and my future.

Joanna, via e-mail