Some parents focus excessively on their children's academic performance while neglecting a crucial aspect of upbringing: the ability to be self-reliant. Many children have never performed household chores, not out of laziness or unwillingness, but because whenever they attempt to contribute, parents often discourage them by saying, "Just focus on your studies; you don't need to worry about housework." This approach leads to significant deficiencies in self-care skills for some students once they enter boarding schools. One of my friends is a typical example: she often appears disheveled, and because she struggles to wash her clothes properly, she brings back a pile of laundry every weekend for her mother to clean, despite her academic ranking consistently hovering around 100th place.
In contrast, American teenagers generally possess strong self-reliance. In their culture, there is a common convention where, regardless of gender, parents cut off all financial support once their children turn 18, compelling them to live independently and forge their own paths. Conversely, many Chinese parents continue to pamper and financially support their children, causing a delayed entry into the competitive society. This only weakens their self-reliance and is not an act of love, but rather a form of hindrance.
Because we possess youth, we stand on a new starting line each day, ready to face new challenges; because we possess youth, we can freely chase our dreams and strive to achieve them; because we possess youth, we fear not failure, believing that everything can be restarted. Everyone has their own unique youth, and we should be the masters of our own destiny!