Some parents focus too much on their children's academic performance while ignoring an even more important aspect—the development of self-care skills and independent living abilities. Some children are unable to do housework not because they are lazy, but because every time they try, their parents say, “Just focus on your studies; you don’t need to do these chores.” Over time, this mindset leads to difficulties in self-care when they enter group living environments. I have a friend like this. She often looks a bit untidy, and the clothes she washes are not cleaned properly. Every weekend, she has to bring a pile of clothes home for her mother to wash, while her academic performance remains average.
In contrast, children in some countries tend to have stronger self-care abilities. For example, in the United States, many families require children to become independent once they turn 18, no longer relying on parental financial support, which encourages them to enter society earlier and develop practical skills. However, in some families, excessive protection and long-term financial support may weaken a child's ability to adapt to society. Such overprotection is not truly love; rather, it can become an invisible limitation.
Because we have youth, we stand at a new starting line every day, ready to face new challenges; because we have youth, we can freely pursue our dreams and work toward them; because we have youth, we are not afraid of failure and believe that everything can start over. Youth belongs to everyone, and our youth should be controlled and defined by ourselves.