How My LIfe Changed

In the 1990s, Deng Xiao Ping, one of the most important politicians in China, had suggested a new policy called “Chinese Economic Reform”. From then on, China opened the door to foreign countries, and the Chinese economy made large progress. My hometown, Fuzhou, was a small village in the past, and everyone almost made their livings as fishermen. The government knew that if Fuzhou wanted to catch up with the whole country’s development, it must be changed. I have witnessed enormous changes around my life since I was growing up with the economic reform in Fuzhou.

The obvious change the government had done was to reconstruct the city. Under the control of Chairman Mao, the government promised that the land belonged to the people, for Chairman Mao advised people to develop the agriculture. However, Deng Xiao Ping had not only focused on agricultural development, he wanted to change the whole market system, so he began land reform. The lands belonged to the government, so the government gave people compensation for bringing back the lands. As a result, people gave up their houses and were forced to move. It was unfortunate that my house had been pulled down at that time. My old dwelling was a compound house with a large rectangular courtyard, and my whole family lived together. I liked this old house, for my upbringing with the house was one part of my unforgettable childhood. Then, my parents and I moved to a new place the condo, and we have lived until now. I didn’t like the condo because I no longer lived with my grandparents, my uncles and my lovely cousins.

Besides the separation from my family members, there was another challenge for my parents after the economic reform. My father was a fisherman, and he only had a high school diploma. Furthermore, my mother was a farmer, and she was illiterate. The new city required skillful and highly educated people, so it was impossible for my parents to find satisfactory jobs. My parents said they preferred to enjoy that relaxed lifestyle. When Fuzhou was a small village, they spent their time on raising pigs, catching fish and planting vegetables. Maybe the village life was a little bit dull. However, they really enjoyed it. In contrast, my parents’ wages have increased since they got the new jobs, but they have found it hard to breathe in the new modern city. My father worked at a construction company, and my mother worked as a housekeeper. Nevertheless, they still worried about being fired because they didn’t have any craft.

Due to my parents’ experiences with the new city, they put all the hopes on me. They pushed me to get a better education and have a successful future. After the economic reform, there was a lack of educated people in Fuzhou, so the government enhanced the education. Kids and teenagers had the right to get free education until junior high school. It was good news for my mother because she could use the savings on training my special skills. When I was seven years old, she sent me to the Children’s Development Center. I was forced to learn dancing, calligraphy and chess. Though I didn’t pay attention to those courses, I had made many close friends at the same time. Moreover, when I was in fifth grade of the elementary school, the government suggested all the students to study English as a main course because there were a lot of foreign businesses pouring into China. The government wanted students to master the second language for the cities’ development.

In conclusion, it was inevitable to lose something important in my life when operating under economic reform. At the beginning of the economic reform, my parents were confused with their lives, my family members were forced to separate, and I lost my childhood of playing with friends and watching cartoons. As time went by, my family, but also the whole city, even the whole country obtained the benefits from the economic reform. Right now, it is convenient for my family to reunite together because the transportation has developed. In addition, my parents have enjoyed their retirement because they get higher pensions. I also got a satisfying job after graduation. All of those changes are due to Deng Xiao Ping’s “Economic Reform”, and that’s why most Chinese people admire him as a “people’s hero”.