First of all, I'm going to skip sharing my post with some whom I used to share before, chiefly for time-saving purposes. A friend of mine in China told me that, considering the high rate of gun violence in America, receiving my daily post is like telling people I'm okay. This is from a 忘年之交 (wàng nián zhī jiāo), meaning a friendship that transcends generational gaps. In fact, I have many such friends here.
Recently, with J.D. Vance being named former President Donald Trump's vice-presidential running mate, there has been renewed interest in his 2016 book, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. In the U.S., the book surged to No. 1 on Amazon from its previous position at No. 220.
I read the book before and would like to share some of my thoughts on it.
On an individual level, Vance grew up in the famous Rust Belt, which became economically distressed and rusted after the 1970s when the industry shifted elsewhere. His parents divorced when he was a baby, and his mother, a drug addict, was irresponsibly neglectful.
When Vance started smoking marijuana, his maternal grandparents immediately took him in, encouraged him to do well at school, and taught him how to grow into a good person. They emphasized that life is hard, but it's never an excuse for failure. Cowards think everything works against them. You should believe that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
The second important event in his life was joining the U.S. Marine Corps. In the past, he felt no control over his life, a sense of hopelessness. The Marine Corps gave him hope. His four years of service transformed him thoroughly, both physically and mentally, from an aimless youth into an ambitious and determined young man. He went to Ohio State University and graduated with high honors in less than two years. From there, he entered Yale Law School, which is like obtaining a pass to the elite political and legal circles in the United States.
A Chinese saying "屌丝逆袭" (diǎo sī nì xí) means "an underdog's counterattack" or "the rise of nobody to somebody." It captures the essence of someone overcoming significant odds to achieve success.
There are a few things that I learned from his story:
The important role of proper guidance, support, and positive influence in a person's life—in his case, his grandparents, the army, and the people he met at Yale. Imagine what his life would be without them.
Change first comes from within. He had to first awaken to his own ability to withstand adverse surroundings. With this awakening, he takes responsibility for his life instead of waiting for others' aid or blaming others for his failure.
Vance's journey from a turbulent youth in the Rust Belt to a Yale Law School graduate and to national political figure exemplifies the transformative power of personal effort and the support of influential people in his life. His story teaches us the critical importance of guidance, perseverance, and inner strength in overcoming adversity. By understanding and reflecting on Vance's experiences, we can better appreciate our own support networks and the resilience required to meet life's challenges.
Finally, his memoir is much more than a rags-to-riches American dream story. Tomorrow, I will explore the macro social implications of his memoir. It is a memoir of a little fish, an insignificant nobody, yet its significance lies in revealing a deep current flowing in the world's wealthiest country.