Advice for a Friend and His Son: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Opportunity
This article addresses a friend's concerns about his current situation and offers advice, particularly for his son, on navigating life's challenges and finding opportunities. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance and self-belief, regardless of one's background.
Understanding Initial Conditions and Missions
Everyone starts life with different advantages and disadvantages. Some are born into privilege, while others face significant obstacles. Each generation has its own unique mission. For instance, the friend's parents prioritized providing him with an education, even if they themselves didn't achieve their full potential. He, in turn, has made significant strides by providing for his family. He has already accomplished a great deal, and his current mission is complete.
The Importance of Self-Reliance and Perseverance
Children from less privileged backgrounds should not give up, or "lie flat." The speaker's experience attending a school with many wealthy students in the 1990s highlighted the disparity in access to information and opportunities.
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Divided Information: Different social groups have access to different information, creating unequal playing fields.
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The Need for Self-Reliance: As a poor student, the speaker felt the need to save himself because no one else could. Although his classmates weren't malicious, they lived in a different world. He found that he often had to decline on taking part in collective activities that cost money.
Despite these challenges, he learned that perseverance is crucial. Unlike resources, persistence cannot be taken away. Many times people assume that they will fail before even starting on a task. However, often success is still possible if one makes an attempt. People without a great many resources should hold on to any successes they have.
Embracing Opportunities and Overcoming Self-Doubt
Even though his time in school was at times unpleasant, there were still many resources that he could take advantage of.
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He had access to things such as an English library
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He found expired diplomacy magazines which exposed him to new possibilities.
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These resources showed him that there was a bigger world outside.
It's common to feel intimidated by the accomplishments of others, especially those with more resources. A recent interview with a high-achieving student reminded the speaker of his own feelings of inadequacy when applying to university. However, he emphasizes the importance of focusing on personal experiences and telling one's own unique story.
The Power of Instinct and Unwillingness to Accept Fate
The speaker shared a story about writing a novel in high school and tirelessly submitting it to publishers, facing numerous rejections. This experience taught him the value of perseverance and the importance of not giving up on dreams, even when they seem impossible.
His personal statement reflected a deep-seated desire to escape his circumstances and create a better life for himself. He realized that so long as he thought what he was doing was the right thing, he would keep doing it. Ultimately, a publishing house in Beijing agreed to publish the novel.
Reaching Out and Seeking Help
Even when one feels that others have better resources or opportunities, it's crucial to remember that many people are willing to help. The key is to continue reaching out and making your needs and aspirations known. The life that you want to achieve or the destination you want to reach might seem impossible. However, you should reach out and speak so that others can hear your needs.
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