Preface:

Wealwayssaythattimeflies,buttherearealwayssomemomentsthatstaywithusforever.Inthesummerof2011,agroupofhighschoolstudentsenteredamusiccompetition.Theywerepassionateandfullofenergy,withtheireyesshiningbrightlikestars.Theybelievedthattheycouldchangetheworldwiththeirmusic.Althoughtheydidnotwinthechampionship,theygainedsomethingmoreprecious-thespiritofyouth.Theyrealizedthataslongastheydaredtodreamandworkedhardforit,theycouldovercomeanyobstaclesandachievetheirgoals.Itwasahotsummerday,andtheschoolwasalmostempty,exceptforagroupofstudentswhowererehearsinginthemusicroom.Theywereallmembersoftheschool'smusicclub,andtheywerepreparingforamusiccompetition.Theirteacher,Mr.Zhang,waswatchingthemfromtheside,smilingwithsatisfaction.Heknewthattheyhadthepotentialtowinthecompetition,butmoreimportantly,hewantedthemtolearnthevalueofteamworkandperseverance.Asthedayspassed,thestudents'passionformusicgrewstronger.Theyspentcountlesshourspracticingandperfectingtheirperformance.Theydreamedofbeingonstage,playingtheirmusicforthewholeworldtohear.Theyknewitwasalongshot,buttheydidn'tcare.Theybelievedinthemselvesandeachother.

However,theirdreamwasshatteredwhenoneoftheirmembershadtodropoutduetoillness.Theyweredevastatedandlosttheirmotivationtocontinue.Mr.Zhangknewthattheyneededanewgoaltostrivefor,sohesuggestedtheyenteranationalmusiccompetition.Thenationalcompetitionwasmuchtougherthanthelocalonetheyhadenteredbefore.Thecompetitorswerealltalentedmusicianswhohadbeenplayingforyears.Thestudentsfeltliketheywereoutoftheirleague,buttheyrefusedtogiveup.Theypracticedevenharderandpushedthemselvestothelimit.Despitetheirefforts,theystillfailedtomakeittothefinals.Theyweredisappointedandfeltliketheyhadletthemselvesandtheirteacherdown.Mr.Zhangsawhowdejectedtheywereanddecidedtohaveatalkwiththem."Winningisn'teverything,"hesaid."Whatmattersmostisthatyoutriedyourbestandnevergaveup.Youmaynothavewonthecompetition,butyouhavewonsomethingmorevaluable-theexperienceofworkingtogethertowardsagoalandthecouragetofacefailure."

Hiswordsresonatedwiththestudents,andtheyrealizedthattheirdreamwasnotjustaboutwinningcompetitions,butaboutthejoyofmakingmusicandthefriendshipstheyhadformedalongtheway.Theydecidedtocontinueplayingtogetherandexploringnewgenresofmusic.Oneday,theystumbleduponastreetperformanceanddecidedtogiveitatry.Theyplayedtheirheartsout,andtotheirsurprise,asmallcrowdgatheredaroundthem,clappingandcheering.Itwasadefiningmomentforthem,astheyrealizedthatmusicwasnotjustameanstoanendbutawaytoconnectwithpeopleandsharetheiremotions.Fromthenon,theyplayedeverychancetheygot-atschoolevents,localcafes,andevenonthestreets.Theyhonedtheirskillsanddevelopedtheirownuniquestyleofmusic.Astheygrewmoreconfident,theystartedwritingtheirownsongsandexploringtheircreativity.Eventually,thedayoftheirgraduationarrived.Itwasabittersweetmomentforthem,astheyknewthattheywouldbegoingtheirseparateways.Buttheyalsoknewthattheirloveformusicandtheirbondasfriendswouldneverfadeaway.

Yearspassed,andthestudentswentontopursuetheirownpathsinlife.Somebecameprofessionalmusicians,whileotherspursueddifferentcareers.However,theyneverforgottheirrootsandwouldoftenmeetuptoplaymusictogether.Oneday,theyreceivedaninvitationtoperformatamusicfestival.Theywereexcitedbutalsonervous,asitwouldbetheirfirsttimeperforminginfrontofalargeaudience.Totheirsurprise,theirperformancewasahugesuccess,andtheyreceivedstandingovationsandpraisesfromtheaudience.Aftertheperformance,theysatdowntogetherandreflectedontheirjourney.Theyrealizedthatitwasnotjustaboutthemusicbutaboutthelessonstheylearnedalongtheway-thevalueofhardwork,teamwork,andperseverance.Theyalsorealizedthattheyhadbecomerolemodelsfortheyoungergeneration,inspiringthemtopursuetheirdreamsandnevergiveup.Theydecidedtostartamusicprogramforunderprivilegedchildren,togivethemtheopportunitytodiscoverthejoyofmusicandthepowerofteamwork.

Theirprogramwasahugesuccess,andtheysawfirsthandtheimpactithadonthechildren'slives.Theywereinspiredtodomoreanddecidedtostartacharityfoundation,tohelpmorechildrenaroundtheworld.Astheylookedbackontheirjourney,theyfeltfulfilledandproudofwhattheyhadaccomplished.Theyknewthattheyhadtrulyliveduptothespiritofyouth-todaretodreamandtoworkhardforit.Theirstoryinspiredmanyotherstopursuetheirdreamsandtomakeadifferenceintheworld.Theyreceivednumerousawardsandrecognitions,butwhatmatteredmosttothemwastheimpacttheyhadonpeople'slives.Intheend,theyrealizedthatthegloryofyouthwasnotaboutbeingyoungforever,butaboutthespiritofyouth-thecouragetopursueourdreamsandthewillingnesstomakeadifferenceintheworld.

Theirmessagetotheworldwassimpleyetpowerful-nevergiveuponyourdreams,andalwaysrememberthatyouhavethepowertomakeadifference.Yearslater,theywerealloldandgray,buttheirloveformusicandtheirbondasfriendsremainedasstrongasever.Theywouldstillgettogetherandplaymusic,andtheywouldstillinspireotherswiththeirstoriesandtheirmusic.Theirlegacycontinuedthroughthechildrentheyhadhelpedandthepeopletheyhadinspired.Theyknewthattheirdreamhadbecomesomethingbiggerthanthemselves,andthatwasthegreatestgiftofall.Andso,theirstorycametoanend,buttheirspiritofyouthwouldliveonforever.Theyhadshowntheworldthatagewasjustanumber,andthataslongasyoudaredtodreamandworkedhardforit,youcouldachieveanything.