Summary of Key Points
This article uses Sun Yuchen's (also known as "Sun Gē") experience of participating in the New Concept Composition Contest in his early years to highlight the differences between the New Concept approach and traditional high school composition education. On one hand, the New Concept Contest, despite its shortcomings such as pretense, imitation, and forced expression of sorrow, allows for the genuine expression of emotions typical of adolescence. On the other hand, traditional education produces a mass of insincere writing that suppresses true feelings. The author acknowledges the New Concept Contest's role in fostering young people's expressive abilities but also criticizes its suppression of creativity. The author reflects on his own experience of being prevented from participating and emphasizes the value of taking action to achieve one's goals, while also pointing out Sun Yuchen's somewhat deceptive behavior.
I. The New Concept Composition Contest: From a "Guaranteed Admission Myth" to a Forgotten Event
The New Concept Composition Contest, organized by the magazine *Mengya*, became nationally popular during its peak years (the first two editions) due to the policy of allowing one composition to secure admission to key universities—more attractive to students than winning the lottery over 20 years ago. However, the elimination of this admission policy in 2001 significantly reduced its appeal. Additionally, the rise of the internet (BBS, blogs) diverted young people's desire to express themselves, leading to the contest gradually fading from public view. Early winners like Han Han and Guo Jingming were celebrated by the contest, but subsequent editions (such as the ninth edition, which Sun Yuchen participated in) produced no notable figures, to the point where even the author had forgotten the contest's existence.
It was only when Sun Yuchen's participation was brought up again that people remembered this once-popular event, which had not only produced famous writers but also influenced later influential figures like him.
II. Traditional High School Composition: Mass Production of Insincere Writing
High school teachers adopt a strict stance towards the New Concept Contest, fearing that students will be influenced by writers like Han Han and possibly drop out of school (although Han Han was not actually promoted by the contest). They view New Concept-style writing as superficial and unsuitable for the college entrance examination, which requires a formal and insincere style that praises the correctness of adults and one's own well-received education (e.g., writing about teachers "burning themselves for the sake of students" or "learning making me happy").
The author criticizes this style as lacking both aesthetic appeal and depth, and argues that such writing is worthless beyond scoring points. Even the eight-legged essays of centuries ago had a structured format; today's college entrance examination essays lack even that, merely being insincere attempts to appear well-behaved.
III. The New Concept Contest: Imperfect, but Better for "True Adolescence"
The New Concept Contest has its flaws, such as pretense and imitation. However, the author believes it is five times better than traditional education because it allows teenagers to express their true emotions, even if it means using somewhat artificial methods. For example, Sun Yuchen's lengthy essays, although pretentious and repetitive, are engaging and tell clear stories (possibly with the help of AI). In contrast, traditional education forces students to maintain a fake facade for life, telling them that authenticity doesn't exist and that what they write in exams is the truth—something completely against human nature.
IV. Sun Yuchen's Essays: A Contemporary Example of the New Concept Style
Sun Yuchen's essays are often mocked for being typical of the New Concept style, but the author agrees that they are engaging and able to tell a story coherently. Even if literary professors might not give them high scores, for the average person, his writing skills surpass those of 99.99% of internet users and 90% of social media influencers. The author suggests that if Sun Yuchen's essays were adapted to the college entrance examination format, they would be unbearable to read due to their artificialness. Sun Yuchen's writing, with its genuine emotions, is appealing even to those uninterested in gossip.
V. Reflection on Growth: Being Prevented from Participating and the Value of Taking Action
The author also wanted to participate in the New Concept Contest but was stopped by his parents and teachers, who argued that it was useless since it didn't guarantee admission. Other students in his class were similarly discouraged. Sun Yuchen's strength lies in his willingness to take action regardless of the circumstances. The author emphasizes that one's happiness must be fought for, a lesson worth learning from Sun Yuchen—but his deceptive behavior should not be emulated.
In conclusion, the article uses Sun Yuchen's story to criticize the suppression of young people's expressive desires by traditional education and calls for more space for genuine emotions during adolescence, even if those expressions are not perfect.