For Neil, This is my motherland, these are my compatriots!

This is my motherland, these are my compatriots!

Dear Neil,

I was a little surprised when seeing the term of “Lao San Jie” in your post, which actually becomes a historical symbol of young people during that period. You understand quite well about the people at that special period and are rich in

knowledge of Chinese contemporary history.

Yes, people of my generation have something very special in spirit which we have inherited from our forefathers. We experienced great spiritual tortures in youth with desperate thirst for knowledge and anxiety about the future; we endured

great pressures in mid-age and sacrificed personal interests simply due to lack

of knowledge or skills, which we should have deserved to gain in youth, when the society has advanced so rapidly since China’s reform and opens to the world

and requires younger and skilful working force especially younger intellectuals

in a variety of fields. However, just as what it is said in your post that “Disappointments are like road bumps, they slow you down a bit but you will enjoy the smooth road afterwards.” We come to maturity after so many sufferings in youth and so does the Republic. We are not to be easily cowed and feared. You can

distinguish us from other people not only by our age, our hoary hair, but the way we think, the attitudes towards life, and what is the most important of all,

the spirit in our hearts - diligence, aspiration, tenacity, painstaking and enthusiasm.

As for the younger generation of China, what they have been undergoing is totally different from what we had in youth. Since China is such a big country with such a large population, the competitions in every field are very fierce as a result. As a student, to simply get high marks is far from enough. In order to enter good high schools and universities, one has to get HIGHER marks than most of

his or her competitors. It is the same in one’s career, and this is a factor

in everyone’s need to be outstanding in all the ways. However, does anyone of them show discouragement in their eyes? Just look how many English learners on this forum who are so valiantly studying a foreign language! I believe in the old Chinese saying that the hardworking people will be rewarded by God someday!

This is my motherland, these are my compatriots! I love, I am proud of my country and my fellow countrymen not just in my words.

Jeannie