中國的90後:秀我個性時代the post 80s
導讀：有人說他們是“垮掉的一代”(the Beat Generation)，有人爲他們冠上“腦殘”的頭銜。年輕的90後似乎還沒有開始他們夢想的征途，便被貼上了這麼多的標籤。《21世紀英文報》特意採訪了幾位90後的大一新生，聽聽他們是怎樣解讀90後的吧！
UPON arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport, Xue Duoxiao, 17, switched on his cell phone. He browsed the news on microblogs, and sneaked into friends` QQ farms and stole some "ripe" vegetables, before searching online for directions to China Agricultural University.
一到首都機場，17歲的薛鐸曉（音譯）就馬上打開手機瀏覽微博、潛入好友的QQ農場偷菜。然後才上網查找去中國農業大學的路線。
Xue is one of the 6.57 million Chinese freshmen who will begin college life this year. Dubbed the Class of 2014, they are the first batch of freshmen in the new decade of 2010. Xue and his peers, both those living in China and abroad, have caused quite a stir as the media and sociologists rush to define them.
今年，中國大一新生人數達657萬，薛鐸曉就是其中一員。2014屆新生是2010－2020這新十年中的首批新生。因此，薛鐸曉和國內外的同齡人們早已引發一股新的熱潮--媒體和社會學家們都趕着爲這一代人定義。
Beloit College in Wisconsin, US, compiled a list of cultural touchstones to define the incoming freshmen, describing them as "having digital in their DNA". Forbes magazine recently also ran a story about Western media`s inaccurate portrayal of China`s youth.
位於美國威斯康星州的伯洛伊特學院專門爲這批新生編輯了文化標準，稱他們的“DNA中就含有數字（技術）”。不久前，《福布斯》雜誌還撰文報道了西方媒體對中國年輕人的錯誤描述。
Similar to the situation in the US, the digital era has also left a significant mark on China`s Class of 2014 - Xue`s immediate use of digital technology on arrival in Beijing is a case in point.
無異於美國，數字時代同樣對中國的2014屆新生產生了深遠影響--薛鐸曉剛到北京就開手機就是個不錯的例子。
Digital has always been with this generation. They were born into the age of the cellphone. In primary school, they made friends online through QQ. They defended their idols and lifestyles in online forums. But they don`t see themselves as "rebels". They are happy, well-adjusted young adults who are ready to surpass the achievements of previous generations.
數碼產品在這代人的生活中無處不在。他們出生在手機時代，從小學就開始通過QQ在線交友，在論壇上維護自己的偶像和生活方式。但是，他們並不認爲自己叛逆。他們是快樂的年輕人，能夠很好地適應新環境並準備好超越前輩。
Identity parade
標榜身份
"Growing up with easy access to information, they tend to form their own judgments, independent from the influence of their elders," said Sun Yunxiao, deputy director of the China Youth and Children Research Center. In Sun`s eyes, they are "a naughty generation".
“在這樣一個信息化時代長大，他們很容易形成自己的辨別力，不受長輩們的影響。”中國青少年研究中心副主任孫雲曉說。在孫雲曉看來，他們是“頑皮的一代”。
But in the eyes of the freshmen themselves, they are no different from the young adults of previous generations. They are simply seeking recognition, both from their parents and from wider society.
但在新生們自己看來，他們與前幾代年輕人沒有什麼差別。他們只是想獲得家長和社會大衆的認可罷了。
"My parents place many restrictions on me. I can`t choose my own hairstyle or clothes. I can`t choose which major to take. I can`t even choose my own brand of toothpaste," complained He Changping, 17, a freshman at Shenzhen University.
“家長管得太嚴了。我不能決定自己的髮型和服裝，不能選擇自己喜歡的專業，甚至不能選擇用什麼牌子的牙膏，”深圳大學17歲的大一新生何長平抱怨說。
He is understandably excited about college life. "Being a college student and an adult might give me a greater sense of "authority". Hopefully I will be in a better position to express my opinions."
嶄新的大學生活讓他格外興奮。“考上大學，長大成人讓我有種強烈的'權威'感。希望我能更好地表達自己的觀點。”
In order to identify the Class of 2014, the media has been buzzing about this year`s "star" freshmen.
爲了給2014屆大學生下定義，媒體紛紛報道今年新生中的“明星”。
Li Kan, the 18-year-old son of Taiwanese writer Li Ao, has enrolled at Peking University. His book about Taiwan`s textbooks has gained him fame among his peers. Also, mainland starlet Zhang Yishan, 18, is going to Beijing Film Academy this autumn.
臺灣作家李敖的兒子李戡（18歲）是北京大學的新生。他曾出書痛批臺灣教科書，並因此在同齡人中獲得不小名氣。此外，大陸小明星張一山（18歲）也在今秋進入北京電影學院就讀。
No representative
不需要代表
But it is not attractive to the Class of 2014 "if one leader were to rise up and call for everyone`s support", wrote Kevin Lee at Forbes, because Chinese youth "are experiencing an evolving sense of individuality and identity".
但是，《福布斯》的Kevin Lee認爲，對2014屆學生來說，“出現個領導，呼籲大家支持”這種事情一點兒也不引人注目。因爲中國的年輕人“正在經歷一場個性和身份的轉變”。
Freshman Xue Duoxiao agrees. He believes this generation are confident in themselves and don`t need a leader to speak on their behalf.
對此，新生薛鐸曉十分同意。他相信這代人很自信，不需要有領導來代表他們說話。
"In recent years, the post-80s generation has achieved a lot and received great praise for their performance during the Beijing Olympics and their efforts to help the Wenchuan earthquake relief work," said Xue.
“近年來，80後羣體已經大有成就，並因在北京奧運會和汶川地震救災工作中的傑出表現大獲稱讚。”薛鐸曉說。
"But we can do better than them. This is our time."
“但我們能比他們做得更好。這是我們的時代。”
