Gaokao completion means brand-new start for youth

A parent gives her child a high five for encouragement in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on June 7, 2023. (Parker Zheng/China Daily)

As the final testing session concluded with the sound of the bell, students streamed out of the school building to receive flowers and hugs from their parents, capturing the moment with photos. The 2024 national college entrance examination, known as the Gaokao, has come to a close.

"I've handed in my papers!" Jin Shengjun, a senior from Jilin Province Experimental High School, dashed out of the exam venue. "I plan to travel, catch up on novels I haven't finished, and broaden my horizons!" He eagerly outlined his post-Gaokao plans.

Whether it's embarking on a spontaneous trip, mastering a new sport, or engaging in activities previously put on hold due to lack of time, Jin and his peers have already mapped out how to spend their exciting holidays and rejuvenate themselves physically and mentally.

Following the Gaokao, various cities will offer online and offline consultations on student and parent concerns, such as major characteristics, talent cultivation, and employment prospects.

The Tianjin Education and Examination Enrollment Institute has developed the "Tianjin New Gaokao Volunteer Auxiliary System," which allows students to filter through thousands of colleges and majors. By considering their personalities and interests, students can gradually narrow their options to suitable and desired institutions.

"Performing well in the exam is just as important as making a good choice," said Liu Min, deputy director of the Student Development Guidance Center at Hainan Middle School. The school has organized a college application volunteer group consisting of experienced teachers and head teachers to guide students and parents through policies, regulations, and strategies.

"Facing the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, the market's demand for talent has also changed," said Wang Haoyu, executive deputy director of the Admissions Office at Beijing Institute of Technology. He advised students to align their choices with the majors' requirements while also considering their own interests, hobbies, and the country's future development needs.

Source: Xinhua; trans-editing by Guo Yao