Take pride in forging your own journey

Growing up in China, I was always told the ancient wisdom: "There are 360 trades, and every trade has its master."

Yet, as I observe our modern society, I feel this profound truth has been overshadowed by deep-seated biases. A pervasive culture of academic elitism — the idea that a bachelor's degree is inherently superior to vocational training — combined with a rigid hierarchy valuing white-collar work over blue-collar labor, traps many university graduates.

I see some of them enduring office jobs that they don't like and don't pay much and grueling "996" schedules, shackled by the perceived prestige of their degrees, afraid to break free even when deeply unhappy.

On the other side, however, there is a growing number of graduates who dare to defy these expectations. They are making choices that shock traditional sensibilities, becoming cleaners, delivery riders, couriers, street vendors, or even returning to their roots to farm the land or raise livestock.

When someone from a prestigious university makes such a choice, it often sparks heated debate and criticism. Voices rise, accusing them of wasting their education or squandering State resources invested in them.

This criticism leaves me deeply unsettled, because the reality we face is stark. As of last year, China's gross enrollment rate in higher education reached 60.8 percent, and the country produces more than 10 million college graduates on average every year.

How can anyone possibly expect every single one of these millions of graduates to land a well-paid, promising white-collar position? The sheer numbers make it an impossible fantasy. The job market is diverse, and individual aspirations are too.

So, when graduates make choices based on their personal fulfillment, practical skills, entrepreneurial spirit, or a simple desire for autonomy, why should we question them? Why the judgment and scorn?

Let's return to that fundamental truth our ancestors understood: Every trade has its master. True worth and dignity in labor come not from the color of your collar, the prestige of your title, or the letters after your name.

They come from honest effort, self-reliance and contributing to society in your own way. As long as someone supports themselves honestly — without theft or deceit — their work deserves basic respect. A person thriving as a skilled electrician, a reliable courier, or an innovative farmer contributes value just as meaningfully as someone in a corporate tower.

Ultimately, the path to fulfillment is deeply personal. Questioning someone's choice of honest work, simply because it doesn't align with outdated societal hierarchies, feels not only unfair but fundamentally disrespectful to the individual's right to define their own success and happiness.

We need to move beyond these artificial divisions and truly embrace the spirit of that ancient saying.

Every legitimate profession, pursued with integrity, deserves dignity.

Every courageous choice to follow one's own path, rather than society's rigid script, deserves understanding, not condemnation.

Contact the writer at zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn