Positive influences on a child’s life and personality are considered “saints” who can nurture their soul, guide them through storms, and endlessly inspire them to strive for a beautiful life.
Thus, one of the greatest fortunes in a child’s life is encountering these five “saints.”

Loving Parents
At one point, Anita Yuen’s relationship with her son was particularly strained.
After consulting a psychologist multiple times, she realized that her son’s rebellion stemmed from her strong-willed nature.
Whenever she felt that her son’s requests were inappropriate, she would immediately refuse.
If he did something wrong, she would punish him without hearing any explanations. She realized that she had never truly tried to understand or respect him.
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Upon this realization, she began to make changes:
She learned to ask for her son’s opinions on matters. When he did something wrong, she would first listen to his explanations and then patiently analyze what he did right and wrong. Over time, her son’s rebelliousness diminished, and he became more open with her.
As the educator Carl Rogers said, “When parents give up the obsession of reforming their children and instead pursue self-improvement, true education can take place.”
Sometimes, the mistakes children make reflect the parents’ issues.
Hence, good education is not about parents trying to change their children but about striving to improve themselves. By refraining from complaints and reprimands and instead listening and working on self-improvement, the magic of education will happen naturally.
Enlightening Teachers
A fifth-grade boy carefully unfolded a small piece of paper his teacher had given him.
On it was written: “Your progress brings great joy to me and the class. I hope you can be confident in both your studies and life.”
After reading these words, the boy suddenly stood up straighter, shedding his embarrassment and gloom. He looked at his teacher with surprise and excitement. Even after she left, he kept rereading the note and carried it with him while doing his homework.
As the American educator Parker Palmer said: “In a child’s life, a good teacher is like a ray of light, illuminating each step they take.”
An excellent teacher not only imparts knowledge but also ignites hope and awakens young souls.
Enlightening Teachers.
When the writer Lin Qingxuan was young, his academic performance was poor. Once, a teacher invited him to dinner at his home. During the meal, the teacher said: “I’ve been teaching for 50 years, and I pledge my life that you will succeed in the future.”
Hearing these words filled him with excitement. No one had ever encouraged him like this before. He vowed to study hard and make a name for himself. From then on, Lin Qingxuan worked diligently.
He decided to become a writer, writing 500 words daily in elementary school, 1,000 words in middle school, 2,000 words in high school, and 3,000 words in college. To date, he has published 131 books.
Indeed, encountering a good teacher is a child’s happiness and good fortune. When children meet an excellent teacher, they find a lifelong guide.
Genuine Friends with Whom They Can Share Anything
Chen Mo, a psychological counselor at East China Normal University, said, “In the past, children’s psychological problems were mainly caused by external environmental factors, but now they are mainly due to high competition and loneliness.”
Today’s children lack sufficient social interaction and struggle to find suitable playmates when they are young. As they grow up, they don’t know how to make friends, leading to reclusiveness.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory states, “Each child needs to fulfill their emotional needs and sense of belonging through daily interactions with others.”
Hence, making friends is a legitimate need, and children require genuine friends with whom they can share and strive for a beautiful life.
Genuine Friends with Whom They Can Share Anything.
Children have two worlds in their childhood: one of interaction with their parents and the other of companionship with their friends.
Good friends help children express and release emotions, accept each other’s weaknesses, and acknowledge strengths. They foster a sense of security and strong bonds, nurturing their souls and promoting personality development, transmitting positive energy, and proactively facing the ups and downs of learning and life.
Children without companions tend to be introverted and lonely, easily developing a negative attitude toward life. Thus, having good companions ensures children grow up positively.
Healthy Competitors
Robert Forster said: “Rivals are obstacles on the road to success, but they are also catalysts for progress.”
A strong competitor is a precious gift in life.
A person shared their experience, recalling how, to this day, they still remember staying up late to study to beat their high school classmate. They paid close attention to their classmate’s study methods and the new study materials they bought.
On the surface, they were good friends who progressed together, but in reality, they were fierce competitors.
This fierce competition drove them to continuously surpass their limits, break their best records, and get into their ideal university.
Healthy Competitors.
Daniel Siegel also pointed out that “Strong competitors stimulate the dopamine reward pathway by more than 37% compared to simple encouragement.”
A strong competitor can deeply inspire children, instilling a fighting spirit, improving their abilities, and helping them become better versions of themselves.
The greatest success in a child’s life is not surpassing others but breaking the limits set by their competitors. A strong competitor is undoubtedly the best whetstone in a child’s life.
Role Models to Emulate
During the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, a 12-year-old boy named Cheng Qiang was rescued from the rubble by paratroopers.
When bidding farewell to the paratroopers, he said, “I want to become a paratrooper.”
Five years later, he joined the army and transferred to the air force. Later, due to his outstanding qualities, he became the 38th squad leader of the “Huang Jiguang” squad.
He was then selected as a member of the Air Force team participating in the 70th anniversary parade of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He was awarded the third-class individual medal and the “Four Honors” of the Air Force for outstanding non-commissioned officers, among other honors. In 2020, he was admitted to the Special Operations Academy of the Army.
As the educator Seneca said, “Teaching is a long road, and example is a short one.”
Sometimes, a good example is better than a thousand words of teaching.
Role models are a strong motivation for ambition, helping children realize their dreams.
Good Companions Nurture Children’s Souls.
Enlightenment lies in teaching, and success lies in example. Thus, parents should help children find ideal role models to emulate to achieve success.
It can be seen that the five closest people will determine the direction of a child’s life.
– Conscious parents will find ways to educate effectively.
– Enlightening teachers guide children to find the most suitable path.
– Good friends share everything, nurturing young souls.
– Strong competitors make children stronger.
– Emulating role models helps children create their own magic.
These five closest people are the “greatest treasure” on a child’s journey to adulthood.
Nurturing a Child’s Potential: The Two “Don’ts” for Parents
“Failing to educate your children is a parental failing” is a well-known saying that emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in their child’s education. This quote highlights the belief that parents have a responsibility to ensure their children receive an education and are not left ignorant. It is a powerful reminder that education is a fundamental right and a crucial aspect of a child’s development.