Years of a strict one-child policy and a rapidly developing economy have placed great pressure on young people to succeed academically and get ahead professionally.
Now, some of them are happily resigned to being ordinary.
"I am just average in everything I do," said Wang Zhaoyue, a 24-year-old master's graduate.
Wang works for an architectural urban planning firm in Beijing, and thinks she could achieve more if it were not for her Buddhist Youth philosophies.
"I always did okay in school, but never great. If I underperformed on an exam, I would just tell myself it was because I didn't care enough to give more than half my effort, which was fine in itself," she said.
"I can't really relate when my friends tell me about their goals and ambitions. As for me, I don't have any dreams."
On the surface, they live ordinary lives, eating lunch with co-workers and playing sports over the weekend. But Buddhist Youths are always wary of overdoing it.
Guo said he had a sudden urge to improve himself a few months ago. He started regularly going to the gym, playing tennis and studying for a business school exam.
A month later, he fell ill with a headache and runny nose.
"I immediately went back to eating whatever I want and exercising only when I feel like it," Guo said. "It's all too tiring otherwise."
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https://www.afp.com/en/news/824/keep-calm-and-be-average-chinas-unambitious-millennials-doc-v67jj1
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