Youth

Why โ€˜Just Get a Summer Jobโ€™ Is the Worst Advice for Privileged 18-Year-Olds

Most people tell high school graduates to get a summer job to ‘build character.’ But for those who don’t need the money, that advice is a trap. Working a low-end job trains your brain to accept mediocrity, lowering your standards for life just when they should be highest. The real investment is in yourself โ€” skills, confidence, and experiences that compound. If you must work, frame it as a deliberate experiment, not a necessity.

I Spent My First Month After Gaokao Doing Nothing. Here’s Why That Was the Smartest Decision.

After 12 years of structured Gaokao obsession, sudden freedom feels like paralysis. But that emptiness isn’t a problemโ€”it’s a healthy signal that your old identity is dying. The smartest move isn’t rushing to find a new purpose; it’s rebuilding control through small, mundane tasks. Learning to cook, driving, and asking real people about their jobs matters more than any grand life plan.