Let’s be real, growing up is hard. It’s a tumultuous time that tosses us about like tiny ships in open waters. Luckily though, we have our dads, standing with all the brilliance of a lighthouse on the shore, a guiding light to help us navigate the unknown. By following their lead, we might just stand a chance of safely sailing into adulthood.

“I remember when my father taught me about life and how to live in this world, he said, ‘Be positive, polite, generous, and think good thoughts for others.’ He intimated to me, if we think good for others, good will happen to us. I use his advice in my life and I have become a very successful individual. That’s one thing I still remember, and I’m very proud of my father.”

Dr. Sajid A on what he learned from his father, Khursheed A

“Many things in this world can be bought and sold, but never your reputation.”

Tao W’s advice to his son, Michael W

“Never get too high in victory, and never get too low in defeat.”

Yong W’s advice to his son, Ken L

“Never be scared to try something different, just because you’re scared to make a mistake. If you never make a mistake because you’re scared, you will only learn slower, so try something different and see if it works. If it works, then great! But if it doesn’t work, just make sure you learn from your mistakes and do it better next time. Mistakes can always turn into a positive as long as you learn.”

Mozzie H’s advice to his son, Tim H

“Never turn your back on the sea.”

Norman M’s advice to his son, Andrew M

“Always bring an extra suit with shoes. Always pack the night before. And give a strong hand-shake, it counts more than you think.”

Steve H’s advice to his son, Rob H

“My father was teaching English as a foreign language in the French education system. He also loved traveling. One bit of advice that I received from him was to explore the world and to really value the importance of learning foreign languages. That’s what inspired me to live abroad, as I have been an expat for 19 years. And that’s why I studied two languages besides French in High School. I also understood from my father that education is one of the best ways to empower yourself. No one in his family had graduated from university before, but he believed that higher education would set him up for success.”

Leila R on what she learned from her father, Martin M

Photos: provided

This article appeared in the beijingkids November 2019 Beijing Baba issue