The Power of Meaningful Conversations in Shaping Young Minds

When I was in school, the tap water tasted so good after extracurricular club activities. My parched throat couldn't have asked for anything better.

I believe that words can be just like that tap water of my youth. Sometimes, someone's casual utterance can richly hydrate a teenager's soul.

The Asahi Shimbun is in its 10th year of running "Watashi no Oriori no Kotoba Kontesuto," a contest which asks junior and senior high school students from around the nation to send in examples of unforgettable remarks they had heard from people.

This year, there were more than 27,000 responses.

"Studying is a means for making your life enjoyable." And that, Urabe said, was sufficient motivation to study.

"The word 'ningen' (human) is written with two kanji--for 'person' and 'between'-- because all of us humans are living among people." That made Tachibana realize that relying on people is nothing to be ashamed of.

"You can become someone who changes society." From the teacher's words, Mizutani could tell that her teacher believed in her and was encouraging her to just do whatever she set her mind to.

The teacher had said "nareru" for "you can become ..." and not "nare," which is in the imperative form, implying an order and not an affirmation.

The difference between nareru and nare is just one syllable, but they mean totally different things.

"Anata no Tame no Tanka-shu" (Collection of tanka poems for you) contains a piece by Tatsuya Kinoshita, who wrote it in response to a request for a tanka that would help young people survive their years in the classroom.

It goes to the effect, "Being different isn't being wrong/ Every window has a blue sky of its own."

In youth, life's "formula" is complex, with ever-increasing "variables" in matters like friendship, course to choose at school, romance and so on.

And that's when someone's words could provide moral support.