Like most young people coming to Beijing, Wu Hao faced unprecedented difficulties, including skyrocketing house prices, numerous tasks to be done and a lonely life far away from home. In his eyes, young people who were born in the 1980s are by no means the ‘lost generation’ as described by the media and the general public. “Our apparent restless behavior, misunderstood by others as thoughtless or irresponsible, is really just a way of venting the incessant pressure placed on us.”
Wu Hao calls his generation the ‘intensive- doing’ generation. In a modern world where fast-forward learning is required in almost every situation, everything should be done intensively in no time at all. He jokes that even a sound sleep can only be slept by young white-color office workers in an intensive way on weekends. “That’s why we feel very tired. People of my age share a joke saying that when we (post-1980s generation) were in primary and secondary schools, college education was free; when we stepped into universities, the primary and secondary schools became free; when we were not old enough for marriage, the houses were free; but when we need a house to get married, the house becomes too expensive for us to afford.”
This is the dilemma young Chinese in their twenties have been facing throughout their lives. “But we are not afraid of the hardships. Small trees under the shadows of giant trees are struggling to get sunlight to grow towards the sky. What we need is some places more suitable for our growth and we just expect that the social environment could be better for our development.”
“Our generation used to be regarded as irresponsible and unstable, but when something serious like the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan happens, the sense of responsibility lying dormant in us is awakened. I was very much moved and shocked by the rescue workers who painstakingly combed through the rubble for any possible survivors.” Suggesting that genuine emotions, such as those displayed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his visits to the quakehit regions have moved everyone and made people feel strong, Wu continued, “It is the light of human nature that makes people feel safe and secure. While witnessing so many changes brought about by the disaster, we began to ask ourselves, what on earth should we pursue? What is really important in life?”
High Expectations
Being a proud young patriot Wu is looking forward to the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games on August 8. “We will let the world see that China is capable of doing anything.”
Except for having a sense of pride, Wu Hao initially didn’t really have any special emotional attachment to the successful bidding. “But the strong sense of getting involved struck me the moment I arrived in Beijing last year. I could witness big changes taking place in the ancient city, which also influenced my life dramatically. After all the happenings, good or bad, in 2008, I felt the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have been given more value and meaning.”
In Beijing, a large number of young people born in or after the 1980s are not of local origin, alone in the city they need to be responsible for their actions and take care of themselves. Despite few reaching a desired level of success, most will continue to struggle and work hard in hope of a bright future. “A seed could burst out of the soil easily without obstacles. But it could be forced to be much stronger a plant if there is a stone on top, blocking the growth.” Wu explained referring to his generation and the upcoming Olympic Games, “The Beijing Olympic Games is like a seed sprouting from underneath the earth, and it is powerful enough to burst out from the heavy stone on top of itself. We will let the world see that China is capable of doing anything. We are waiting for the moment the burdened sprout bursts out from the soil.”