Impressed with the essay "no need to get into Harvard" of a 5th grade girl

An essay presenting independent thinking by a fifth-grader in eastern China is going viral on social media, according toNext SharkOctober 31. This is an entry for a contest in which contestants are asked to explore the hidden things within themselves.

Yu impressed with her thoughtfulness when she wrote that she was just a speck of dust in the universe like everyone else. In third grade, she dreamed of becoming a carpenter, but realized that society always discouraged people with prejudice. Many people are often judged as "useless" even before they have the opportunity to discover their talents.

The discovery made Yu feel lonely and helpless, but his father advised him not to think about what others said and to just move on with his life.

Since then, Yu has changed his lifestyle. He wakes up early and goes to bed early, exercises, studies hard at school, and asks for help to understand math problems.

One time, the teacher asked the class to run 50 meters, and Yu did her best. "I ran so fast that my hair was flying in the wind. I finished the race in 8.75 seconds and was so happy. I even thought I was Usain Bolt. That night, I ate some chocolate and my father said I was a great girl," Yu wrote.

Yu's conclusion resonates with students and workers living under pressure in the world's most populous country: "Maybe I don't need to study so hard to get into Harvard, I just need to live happily."

China NewsYu is studying in Nanjing City and her home environment is very comfortable. Her father allows her to make mistakes and does not set high demands on her studies. "Our daughter is a relatively simple child. She is very cheerful and has high self-esteem," Yu's father told reporters.

Besides, Yu has full support from his parents in any field he is interested in. Outside of school, he studies violin, piano, plays soccer and practices karate.

On social media, Yu was praised for finding the meaning of life at such a young age. The community discussed the story enthusiastically: "The father is so open-minded, not forcing anything, just wanting his child to be happy. The teacher is also very good! The child's thinking is very flexible!".

Others said learning to be self-aware and enjoy life was a welcome development. “As we grow older, we learn what it means to be mentally stable. It’s much harder than getting into a good college,” one person wrote.