Nation's teenagers gear up for the gaokao

I am nervous for my students as they bid for college

I teach math at a high school in Beijing. I started teaching three years ago, and this week the first of my students will take the gaokao. They are nervous, and so am I.

The gaokao is the most important challenge for almost all high school students, because it is the main method of gaining entry to a university.

Their scores will decide what kind of university they can attend, and their university diplomas will play a major role in deciding what job they can get.

Gaokao is a word full of sweet dreams and nightmares. Many students have big dreams and they set top universities as their goals. But the pressure and competition can cause breakdowns. Some lose sleep and become ultrasensitive.

However, most learn to accept whatever score they get in the exam and get on with their lives. Most will pursue university education and find their own path through life.

But I believe they will definitely become mentally stronger after taking the gaokao. After all, it is the most intense competition in China.