Chinese actress and former K-pop idol Cheng Xiao is recently part of the cast of Chinese reality show Daughters and Mothers (是女儿是妈妈2). The 26-year-old star touched upon a long-standing regret of hers – as she wasn’t able to pursue a college education.
At just 14 years old, Cheng Xiao left China to become a trainee in Korea under Yuehua Entertainment, eventually debuting as a member of the South Korean girl group WJSN (Cosmic Girls). Her mother revealed on the show that she had negotiated a backup plan with the agency: if Cheng Xiao failed to debut within two years, she would return to her studies as an international student. However, the then-aspiring idol’s efforts paid off. She debuted and quickly became one of the popular members of WJSN. Despite this success, both she and her mother admitted that skipping higher education has remained their regret.
Cheng once wrote a heartfelt letter to her mom, saying, “If you don’t let me go, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.” Her mother, though conflicted, chose to fully support her daughter’s dream. Looking back, they both acknowledged that their relationship had suffered during those early years. “You just worried too much,” the singer-actress said with a smile.
Since returning to China, Cheng Xiao has steadily built her career. At just 19 years old, she was already a mentor on Idol Producer, which was the start to many other survival shows where she appeared in the same capacity. The former idol has also starred in dramas like The World of Fantasy, Falling Into Your Smile, and Fangs of Fortune.
Photos: Cheng Xiao
HL
China currently has high numbers of jobless graduates even from top Unis. They likely will rather do what she did if they had the looks and talent. At least they will be earning proper money. CCP would hate this comment of mine.
Coralie
education is wasted on the young. we don’t truly appreciate what we’re learning until we’re older. the good thing is, college can be started at any age. she can head back into college if she really wants to. it’s better than having multiple degrees, but no job and no income. she made the right choice for her
Du
I think general misconception is that education equals vocational training. You don’t go to schools only to get better paid job, you educate yourself with academic rigors to expand your inner world as well, to grow on another level. From that perspective I can understand her regret. People can make a lots of money without education but with basic vocational training, including a training for being an idol.
Coralie
only if you truly comprehend what you’re getting out of a college experience. most are in college for the sake of finding a job, not for some lofty ideals. although, to your point, vocational training is a great alternative to college and students are still getting educated, just not in the traditional way.
Du
you’re correct. People interested only in going to school for improving their chances in job market should be absolutely allowed to do so, via either professional training or vocational training or smth else. I wonder if education and professional training could be separated or bundled by choice? Our current educational system was designed at the beginning of 20th century when intellectual and scientific angle was more appreciated than professional training. I personally appreciated this angle more than professional training to be honest. Current system offers several layers of improvement at the same time, professional training, academic basics, absorption of intellectual thinking patterns, social build up (peer network), etc. Is the answer not bundling all together for some people? Personally I would never suggest my children to skip scientific or intellectual segment and focus only on professional training. The other parts were more important for me in my life as they helped me face challenging changes better. But we are all different, and different choices might be an option.
Coralie
some universities offer co-op programs which is essentially an internship in your 3rd or 4th year of the major to gain some on-hands experience for what you’re learning. I’m from the U.S. so there are colleges that offer this feature, but not all.
in the U.S. the education system was created initially to help foster basic training for employees to train them for their jobs. colleges were for further advancement and knowledge of religion and liberal arts. idk if they were geared more towards intellectual thinking patterns, as from my perspective, everything started out of practical purpose and standardization, rather than pursuit of ideology. but I’m pretty cynical lol and I think all of it is for the benefit of our corporate and elite overlords (even if it benefited all parties in the end.)
peer network has never worked for me lol. I’ve found all my jobs the old-fashioned way and the one time it worked for me, it wasn’t thru my college pals, but thru my old coworker and childhood friend. all of this is feasible without the help of college, but it does facilitate better networking if that’s your goal.
idk. I learned a lot fundamental stuff in college, but I wouldn’t say the impact on me is all it’s cracked up to be. I’m not even in the same field as my major. everything I learned that’s useful came from some aspect of vocational training (basic knowledge on my major) and real life experience. but I agree that everyone is different. what’s important to someone might not be to another.
cheng xiao’s regret is because she doesn’t have the foundational knowledge about her job. she’s learning on the job, but never got to “study” her job, the way an actress might’ve understood the principles behind acting, had she gone to college. but real life experience can be an education in its own way. all veteran actresses didn’t become great because they went to acting school, but thru learning and reading and experiencing on the job.