The college entrance examination is not the first answer in life, but it is the best witness to youth's striving

It is once again the college entrance examination season. Outside an exam site in Changchun, Jilin, parents seeing off their children spoke in low voices and took the initiative to keep quiet, becoming a common scene outside exam venues in many parts of the country. The article points out that this consideration for examinees also reflects society’s longstanding emphasis on the college entrance examination. The report argues that the gaokao in China is not only a test for further education selection, but also a kind of "ritual of striving." It emphasizes effort and ability as important standards, providing relatively fair channels of upward mobility for young people from different family backgrounds, and also carries the social consensus that "knowledge changes destiny." The article also mentions that, as higher education becomes more widespread and vocational education develops, the paths for young people to achieve success are becoming more diverse. The gaokao is not the only answer in life, but it is still an important witness to the efforts of many young people in their youth, and a key part of the country's system for selecting and cultivating talent.