On Seizing Opportunities

Over a lifetime we encounter many chances that could change our fate, but regretfully miss most of them. Why do we miss opportunities, and how can we seize them before they vanish?

Failing to notice an opportunity, or failing to take it seriously, often makes us miss it. The historical Lanling Prince Gao Changgong was a handsome man, but in Honor of Kings he is usually invisible. Sometimes he is right beside you and you do not see him. When he comes near, though, an exclamation mark appears above your head. Likewise, opportunities often give a signal when they arrive; we should learn to trace that signal to its source.

Some opportunities are “missed for you” by others; you have to pursue them to get the chance you deserve. Our school had nomination places for the Bowen Scholarship at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, but our grade office did not announce them. I went to my homeroom teacher and the student-affairs director, ran around for two days and used a few tactics to secure the opportunity. I see that as a victory. [But it now seems the matter may still have fallen through; I have done all I could.] At times, too, others misunderstand me and fail to receive the signals I send. I get tired and do not want to explain further, and I regret that they missed the opportunity I offered.

Whether we seize a chance ultimately depends on our attitude. If we only wait, some opportunities will still come, but these vary with our circumstances. Good grades may bring scholarship offers from schools; poor grades leave almost no choice. Good-looking people can attract attention, questions about their grades and gifts without doing anything; those judged unattractive may be disliked merely for existing (which, of course, is considered normal because beauty is valued everywhere). If your family is well off, those first two factors may not matter; if it is not, you must rely on your own effort. Though we call it fate, is it not also human endeavor? Even with disadvantages, we can change our situation by pursuing opportunities, move from passivity to initiative and exercise our agency to secure chances that would not otherwise have been ours. My classmate Zhao Pengbo once saw someone eating birthday cake in the cafeteria. We did not know the birthday girl, though the girl opposite her was in our class. Zhao asked whether I wanted some. I said yes. “Go wish her a happy birthday,” he said, “and she will definitely give you a slice.” I was too embarrassed, but soon he could not resist and asked for a slice himself. He got one. Returning in triumph, he said, “This is a victory for the brave.” The cake really was good. Last winter break, I found an English error at the newly opened Olympic Museum near the Bird’s Nest. After telling a staff member, I asked whether she could give me a Bing Dwen Dwen mascot. She did not, but I think asking was a brave attempt. The same applies to the email I sent to DeepSeek’s Zhao Chenggang.

I still remember when my little cousin was born and I was taking online classes at home. My uncle told me, “An opportunity lost never returns.” I seized my chance to secretly play Honor of Kings (though my mother found out). Similar chances really did not come again: when my younger female cousin was born, my mother took my phone away outright.

Once certain opportunities are missed, they never return. I hope I can seize more of them and rise with them.