Nearly 60 percent of the adult respondents to a recent survey said they could not remember what exactly they learned in middle school. Among the subjects the respondents had forgotten the most were math, chemistry and physics. Following is what China Daily's mobile news readers said they learned in middle school and which they think influenced their adult life.

Most of what we learn in middle school is normally forgotten with the passage of time goes, especially because we don't get enough opportunities to use them in real life. But what we learn in middle school are not only lessons from books, but also the ability to understand, think and analyze. This ability stays with us throughout our life and helps us in every applicable field. And by influencing the way we think, this ability becomes our most powerful weapon in life.

LUZUANPAI, Dongguan, Guangdong province

The Chinese language and music classes in middle school played an important role in my growing-up process. A good knowledge of the Chinese language helped me fall in love with literature and, more importantly, develop the habit of reading, while the music classes taught me how to appreciate music and enjoy its beauty. The habit of reading and listening to music will continue to be an essential part of my life and help me seek inner peace in today's fast-paced world.

A READER, Guangzhou, Guangdong province

The knowledge a person acquires in middle school is the cornerstone of his character. We may forget the lessons our teachers taught us, but as long as we remember how to think we will continue to have an independent personality, which will help us cope with loss and confusion, and keep us exploring and fighting for self-improvement.

BUZHI, Xi'an, Shaanxi province

Any top physicist or researcher in chemistry should first be a good mathematician, which is what I believe in after teaching for more than a decade. My suggestion for today's middle school students is: excel in math because it will transform you - you'll be like a duck in water, able to navigate the ripples, the tides and the ebbs of life.

A READER, Xi'an, Shaanxi province

The most important thing we learn in school, according to me, is the ability to think, which helps us for the rest of our life. The ability to think plays a crucial role in our personal development.

XIAOYA, Changsha, Hunan province

As an English teacher, I think some of the difficult math problems we learn in middle schools are easy to forget. But the lessons related to real life and some physics and chemistry lessons I learned in school will always influence my life. Education should, therefore, start from life, away from boring formulas, and stimulate students' passion to explore their surroundings.

A READER, Beijing

I was attracted to geography as early as in junior middle school and have been studying and exploring its charm ever since. When I was driven by my interests rather than the requirements of exams, the information my textbooks offered could not meet my thirst for knowledge, compelling me explore other sources. From plateau to basin, China to the world, nature to human society, the subject of geography has unlocked many questions for me. Many years have passed, but I clearly remember the lessons I learned in school, from which I believe I will always benefit.

NIQIU, Xinxiang, Henan province

(China Daily USA 08/05/2013 page12)