Photo: Akiyama Ryōji 照片选自秋山亮二摄影集《你好，小朋友》[Interviewee not pictured]
Note from Kuang:
这是北京光芒栏目第一次采访小朋友。在聊天的过程中，才八岁的姜合说话俨然像个小大人（文中很多略显严谨的词都出自他的原话），对人生和未来已经有了不少自己独立的思考。
This is the first time a child is featured in the series. Only eight, Jiang He sounds like a young adult and shows some surprisingly independent thoughts toward life and his future. These words are all his.
Jiang He, post 10s’ generation, Beijinger, primary school student
I’m eight years old this year. I think the purpose of life is to study and ultimately to work hard for the country.
I was born in Beijing, lived here my whole life. I don’t have many recollections from earlier, only a few vague memories of attending kindergarten when I was five or six, sitting in my mom’s car and feeling the breeze brush over my face on the way to school.
Kindergarten was better than primary school, you got food three times: in the morning, around noontime, and in the afternoon. I also had a girlfriend in kindergarten. She was one of my classmates. I liked her a lot. Why did I like her? I can’t explain it, all I can say is that I really did. It’s a pity that we don’t attend the same school anymore.
I attend a Muslim elementary school, and a few of my classmates are Hui. We like to eat different foods and sometimes we don’t dress the same, but aside from that I don’t see much difference between us.
After starting first grade, we have to wear a red scarf. It signals that we’re not little kids anymore but members of the Youth Vanguard. The teachers tell us the red scarf carries a lot of significance. For formal school events like the flag-raising ceremony every Monday morning, we must make sure we are wearing it properly.
Since the second grade, my homework has increased a lot. Every day when I get home after school it takes me at least one hour to finish everything. I just became a third grader this year, I think the homework pile will only get bigger.
We study many subjects—Chinese, English, Math, Science, Art, etc. Out of all the subjects I think English is the hardest. All those words are not only so hard to remember but also so hard to write. We learn history too, both Chinese history and world history. I think learning history is very important. It is only because of history that we have today.
Every time we have a break between classes—that is my favorite time at school. After a 40-minute class, we have a 10-minute break. We get to relax a bit—we can get a drink of water or chat with friends. But the 10 minutes pass so quickly, like a strong wind. Maybe that’s also why my days as a child are slipping away so fast.
After school, I like playing weiqi and football. Some weekends I have football matches. Whenever I have a match, my mom will come with me and watch, no matter how busy or tired she is. She’s a great mom. Always responsible and caring.
For as long as I can remember, I don’t get to see my dad around that much—he is always going away on business trips. I wish he could spend more time with me, but I’ve never told him that. I’ve just never found the right chance. Even if I do have the chance, I’m too shy to say anything.
My dad is from Qingdao in Shandong. My grandparents still live there. Each year during my school holidays, I visit them. Every time I know they will prepare my favorite foods like steamed oysters and crabs for me.
Grandpa and grandma never talk about their life growing up. I never ask either. I sometimes imagine what life was like for them decades ago. There was war. There wasn’t enough food. Thinking of that, I feel so lucky to live in this era.
For my future, I’ve considered many plans, including becoming a doctor or a police officer. But I said no to them all. Those jobs seem too risky. I’m the type who doesn’t like risks.
Is there anything that has no risk at all? I doubt it. I will just try to choose the career that is least risky, even if it’s not well paid. But what if I don’t like the least-risky job?
After all these flip-flops, I find it impossible to choose, at least for now. I can only wait and see what comes to me. For the moment, I just want to live in a bigger room, to have a more fulfilling living environment.
When the new year comes, I’ll turn nine. Things will change from being eight right? By then, I might also want different things.
Edited by Dan Xin Huang and David Huntington
姜合，10后，北京人，小学生
我今年八岁。我觉得人生的意义是学习，和为国家出力。
我在北京出生，北京长大。小时候的事大多不记得了，最早记得五六岁那会儿，天天去幼儿园，坐在妈妈车上，有时候有风吹过我的脸。
幼儿园比小学好，早上中午下午都有吃的。我在幼儿园还有一个女朋友，是我同班同学，我很喜欢她。为什么喜欢？说不上来，反正就是觉得喜欢，可惜我们小学不在同一所学校。
我在一所回民小学上学，班上好几个同学是回族人。除了爱吃的东西不一样，有时候穿的衣服不太一样，我没发现我们有什么大的区别。
上小学之后，我们都要戴红领巾。戴上红领巾就表明不再是小朋友，是少年先锋队的队员。老师告诉我们，红领巾意义重大，在一些学校重要活动和每周一的升旗仪式上，必须整齐佩戴好。
从二年级开始，我的作业就多了不少，每天放学回家至少要花一个小时做作业。我今年刚升三年级，作业可能会更多。
我们学很多科目，语文，英语，数学，科学，美术等。所有的学科里，我觉得英语最难，那些单词不光不好背，写起来也很不好写。我们也学历史，中国历史外国历史都学。我觉得学历史很重要，有历史才有我们现在。
每次课间休息算是我在学校最开心的时候了。一堂课40分钟，休息10分钟，可以喝水，跟同学聊聊天儿。课间10分钟过得很快，像一阵风吹过一样，一下子就没了，可能这也是为什么小时候的时间溜得那么快吧。
课余时间，我爱下围棋踢足球，周末有时候会去参加球赛。每次只要我有球赛，妈妈再忙再累都会陪我去，是一个特别认真负责的好妈妈。
从记事起，爸爸就经常出差，我很少见到他。我其实很希望他能多陪陪我，可是我从来没跟他这么说过，见面的时间太少了，没找到机会，有机会我也有点不好意思说。
爸爸是青岛人，现在爷爷奶奶还住在青岛。每年放寒暑假，我都会去那里住一段时间，每次爷爷奶奶都会准备我最爱吃的蛤喇和螃蟹。
爷爷奶奶小时候的生活，他们没讲过，我也没问过。他们那个时候有战争，还要挨饿。相比之下，我能生活在这个年代，真是太幸福了。
对于未来，我想过很多的可能，想过当医生，当警察，但这些都风险性太大，我不喜欢风险，害怕出现风险。
不过好像什么事情都有风险，我就尽量选一个风险最小的，赚的钱少点也行。但是万一这个风险小的我不喜欢怎么办呢？
我想来想去，琢磨了很长时间，都没有结果，只能到时候看情况。眼下我只希望能住进一个大一点的房间，有一个更丰富的生活环境。
过了12月，我就该9岁了，跟8岁应该不太一样吧？到那时，我想要的东西可能也不一样了。
Kuang is the founder of Beijing Lights. She would love to hear your thoughts about the column and is open to new collaborations. She can be reached at kuang@spittooncollective.com.