Clouds drift in the sky, and a backpack lies before us; there is a road leading to the sun, boundless and without end. The road is lush with green grass, accompanied by youth; the distant sands swirl, marking the arrival of maturity. We walk this way, day after day, year after year, listening to the wind whisper of rain and the rain beat against the lake. The ropes of time will eventually transform into the lightning we cast toward the heavens.
Youth is a vibrant, multifaceted dance, using the diverse flavors of life to pave the way through the years. We cannot choose our future; life is like a horizon—as we run, all we leave behind is a receding silhouette. Each person's youth is a journey, a long trek away from childhood and our younger selves. You will gradually realize that the world is nothing like you imagined; you may feel lonely, experience exclusion, or feel lost. You may face the hardships of life, with cold stares and mockery rushing in like turbulent currents; this is exactly where youth leads us.
We may not possess the wisdom of Jobs, the talent of Mozart, the personality of Han Han, or the miraculous pasts of fictional protagonists. However, we can certainly draw inspiration from their brilliance. They stand like golden landmarks under the sun, but beneath their radiance, shadows of hardship always follow. As the canvas of life unfolds, you will find the fairytale colors fading, the dawn arriving more slowly, and the unpredictable colors of reality splashing upon you. This is society.
Life has no "ifs"; what we try to erase are merely illusions and pains. Life has its moments of hesitation and its costs to pay. To escape everything is to leave one's life a blank canvas. You may feel helpless, sorrowful, or even failed, but when you look back, you will realize that at least you didn't live with regrets; perhaps, your journey was truly magnificent.
As the book *Flipped* says: "Some live in high buildings, some in deep ditches; some are radiant, some are rusted. Among the myriad kinds of people in the world, do not let passing clouds trouble you."
Giving your passion and tears to these blazing years may only result in the whispers and glances of strangers. But during this journey, ask yourself: where is my youth heading?
