The unbeatable power of 1 phrase: Jia you

I got my fair share of the phrase "Jia you（加油）!" or literally, "add oil", which translates as "come on"! when I did the unthinkable for the first time in my adult life. I signed up to run the 100- meter dash to represent the International Department of my university in an annual sports event. To make things clear, until that day, even the thought of running for fun had never crossed my mind, not to talk of running competitively. Of course, anyone with an intact body and in good health can run. I knew I could run, and I was also aware of how great it would feel if I was victorious. But it is no-brainer that no one has ever won anything sitting on the bench. To win, one must gather the courage to get into the game.

I realized one day while observing a basketball game that humans too have something that kick-starts the hidden power in us. A guy in the front of the basket gets the ball, contemplating what to do next, and everyone shouts his name, "Jia you," he scores. The more "Jia you" he receives, the more baskets he scores. His teammate is having a bad day as he misses every attempt to sink the ball into the basket. Then, onto him, everyone on the sideline shouts his name with the magic phrase, ’’Jia you," and he turns the table and starts to score.

The magic power would work in my favor, too, when I dragged myself to the event. I said to myself, make sure it doesn’t drain out as it did before. I don’t believe in superstitions, but I trust in the explosive power of the human spirit. Despite the incessant discouraging music playing on the background of my head, I bet on "Jia you." Hence, I showed up for the event. Consequently, as I stood there and heard my name intertwined with the magic phrase, it poured out like a rainstorm from the crowd and the power in me was released, and I won the race.

Nevertheless, coping strategies and activating powers within every one of us may differ in one way or another when faced with a challenge. Still, the power generated together by a group of people or community is undefeatable. Over the years living in this land, I have observed that the phrase "Jia you" is the most excellent motivator of all. It is the harbinger of hope, love, empathy, strength, and the list can be added at will. It’s the phrase offered from a parent to child struggling to make good grades, a farmer hoping for an abundant yield, the graduate seeking a well-paid job, and the sick praying for a quick recovery.

The surreptitious emergence of the novel coronavirus is not immune to the power of "Jia you."

As the virus started causing feelings of rage, fear, and helplessness, especially in Wuhan and its environs, the people of China mobilized their strengths and came together as a whole to fight the common enemy. In fact, "Jia you" became more popular than ever before as people all over China shouted from their balconies and windows- Jia you, Wuhan, Jia you, China! 

From experience, I see Chinese society as cohesive in which people will do anything to help one another and their beloved land as a whole. Also, people intuitively realize and count on the strength in numbers and take company in groups, especially in difficult times.

People have different ways and means of facing life’s adversities. However, when people come together and see themselves not as an individual but as part of a bigger society, the disease no matter how hideous, can be overcome. The whole is always more reliable than the sum of its parts. And as Patrick Henry famously said, "United we stand, divided we fall."

Woes and adversities are inevitable, no matter how good our intentions may be. But with society's flawless power and strength, even a dire calamity such as the coronavirus, we are faced now with what can be defeated.

Experiencing the explosive power in "Jia you," I say, "Jia you" to countries all over the world, and anyone battling the hideous rigor of COVID-19. More so, to the families that lost a loved one, health workers risking their lives in saving others, children stuck at their homes hoping to run freely outside. And to the authorities implementing ad hoc measures in protecting communities and those whose jobs and careers are on the line.

I believe that the fight is ours to win, and we shall prevail at all costs. It's not the time to be skeptical, resorting to blaming, and showering baseless criticisms. It’s time to form an alliance with one another and shout as loud as you can "Jia you" as we console ourselves to the line of victory.

And finally, as Bob Marley once said, ''You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only option."

Long live Wuhan, long live China, long live the human race, and long live the universe.

Yakubu Ibrahim is a CSC student at Shandong University.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.