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Stay ahead of the game
Kyle Tse Yau-kan, Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School
I would like to share a lesson I learned from reading Young Post’s interview with Lee Ki, a former professional basketball player who became a coach at a secondary school in Hong Kong.
A few days ago, my teammates and I represented our school at a football match, and seeing the trophy we won felt fantastic. Victory is important in sports competitions because it honours our hard work. However, the journey along the way is just as important as the results.
Trying our best, improving our skills and being good teammates are what truly count. In fact, we often learn more from a loss than a win, as it tells us what we can improve next time.
There are a host of benefits to joining a sports team. You get to make new friends and form a supportive community, which can be like your second home. Regular training keeps our bodies healthy and strong, and it teaches us time management skills, as we must balance schoolwork with practice.
For the students who love sports, keep playing! You cannot reach the top in a single leap. Your dedication is paving the way for your future. The skills you are learning from playing a sport – leadership, teamwork, self-discipline and how to handle pressure in the face of adversity – will benefit your academics and your future career.
Lace up your shoes, have fun, play fairly and always remember to give it your best shot. The journey of growing through sports is the biggest win of all. It is normal to experience failure in sports, so if you love it, make sure to take every shot!
Beneath K-pop’s shiny surface
Hannah Cui, King Ling College
As a long-time fan of K-pop, I am writing to express my views on the industry. Some people only see the shiny surface of K-pop, but in fact, this hides many serious problems.
In recent decades, South Korea’s music has exploded in popularity, and many young people dream of becoming an idol. But with countless people competing for a few debut positions, trainees face immense pressure.
The first problem with K-pop is related to mental health. Many people begin training to be idols in their teen years. They must learn how to dance, rap and sing, in addition to other skills. Everyone is their competitor.
Large companies are demanding; it is possible to train for years and still not debut.
With such mental and physical pressure, how many people can stick to it?
The second problem in this industry stems from its high standards. K-pop’s aesthetic has always been pale and thin. During their training and even after their debut, idols have to maintain their bodies to meet a certain standard. Many management companies use extreme measures to achieve this.
Besides the company, there are high standards and a lot of pressure coming from fans and teammates.
As a result, there are quite a few idols with psychological problems. Sometimes, these issues stem from the transition from being competitors to teammates, and there can also be bullying within a group.
These problems affect people in different ways, and some idols manage to stick it out and debut. But there are also many idols who genuinely want to give back to their fans but end up burning themselves out on the stage.
