Guardianship of Growth

Grace NiOctober 14, 2024The School Experience

Health, like the foundation of the tree of life, is the cornerstone of our growth, learning, and development. It is not only related to our physical strength, but also closely related to our psychological state, social skills, and future prospects.

In today's society, with the widespread access to education and evolving educational philosophies, there is a growing emphasis on the holistic development of students. However, it cannot be overlooked that many Chinese students have not received adequate psychological support and sex education during their formative years. This deficiency has not only impacted individuals but also hindered their potential for future growth.

The shame and stigmatization of sex still exists in society. In China, there are still some people whose thinking is stuck in the traditional ideas of female morality. Sometimes when you think of "women," you only think of "children," "cooking," and "laundry." It is because there are still some people who will maintain the traditional thinking of old times, so that children do not realize that gender inequality in society is still happening. More importantly, they do not even know how to effectively protect themselves when they are insulted or hurt. My school pays attention to this matter. About once a month, a professional doctor will tell us about how to protect ourselves or related information. This can help us to recognize this knowledge accurately and clearly. What should we do to protect our safety when something happens?

Fortunately, in my school, I was blessed with a friendly and responsible education. The school provides us with professional mental health services, such as a psychological counselor. She comes to our class regularly to explain the characteristics of different emotions and teach us how to adjust ourselves quickly. She explains everything in an easy-to-understand way and provides practical advice. This kind of education has made me more aware of my inner world and taught me to better manage my emotions, which was very helpful for my growth.

Looking ahead to the future, I hope that with the advancement of educational concepts and the increasing emphasis on mental health and sex education in society, more schools will take positive measures to provide students with a more comprehensive, healthy, and harmonious environment for growth. I hope that every student can thrive in such an environment and become a modern youth with a healthy psychology, correct gender equality concepts, and strong self-protection skills, so that they can contribute their own strength to society and write their own wonderful life.

Grace Ni is a high school student from Beijing, China.