Every year in China, millions of students appear in what’s considered as one of the world’s toughest exams: The Gaokao. But this year, what became a memorable moment after Gaokao wasn’t the scores or the results. Instead, it was a simple gesture a student made.But what was so special about the moment?
11 Jun 2026 | 18:00
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The emotional moment unfolded when the student kneeled before his father. Sure enough, the simple act of respect was beautiful, but what made the moment more special was the person the student bowed before. The student’s father is Chen Zhou. The boy wasn’t just honoring his father. He was also honoring his father’s journey of resilience and determination he portrayed throughout his life despite his disability.
Who is Chen Zhou?
Chen Zhou is a popular motivational speaker from China. According to the South China Morning Post, Chen Zhou lost both his legs at the age of 13 after falling from a moving train.The accident changed his life completely. However, instead of allowing his circumstances to decide his future, Chen Zhou decided to rebuild his life, and did the same. He travelled across China as a street performer, using music to support himself. He turned his struggles into a message of hope.
Through sheer determination and perseverance, Chen Zhou did something that seemed impossible for many. He climbed Mount Hua, one of China’s Five Great Mountains, using only his hands and a pair of homemade wooden supports.When Chen Zhou completed the 19 hour climb, his son, then a little boy, witnessed his father’s determination. He cried with tears of pride, as he looked at his father’s incredible testament of courage. Years later, his kneeling gesture after the Gaokao became a reflection of that same admiration and respect.
The powerful parenting lessons behind Chen Zhou’s story
Chen Zhou’s journey became more than a personal story of thriving amidst the hardships, it became a lesson his son grew up witnessing every day.
Children don’t need “perfect parents,” they need parents who want to be better
Many parents hide their struggles from their children. However, Chen Zhou showed them to his son, not to make him feel bad, but to teach him the power of resilience. He showed his son that strength is what helps continue life even when things get difficult.
Children learn resilience by watching their parents
Many parents often tell children to be strong, to stay positive, and to never give up. But what makes children understand these values is when they see these happen around them.
A parent’s actions become a child’s lessons
Children forget what parents say, but they never forget what they do. The way parents react to failures, handle pressure, or face challenges, teaches children important values.
Respect grows from the relationship parents build
Chen Zhou’s son’s emotional gesture after Gaokao was not something created in one day. It reflected years of love, connection, and admiration. Children don’t respect parents when they are told to. Respect is developed when parents make children feel supported while motivating them to be better.
The greatest gift parents can give is mindset
Materialistic achievements come and go, but a strong mindset is what a child carries through his life. Chen Zhou’s son may have completed one of China’s most challenging exams, but the values behind that achievement; perseverance, gratitude, and courage; were shaped long before the exam hall.
The real prize of parenting
Chen Zhou’s son will surely remember his Gaokao journey, but what will stay with him through his life are the values that helped him get there.For parents, this carries a powerful message that success is not only about raising children who achieve great things. It is also about raising children who understand gratitude, respect, and the effort behind those achievements.
