Wondering about my life
Chen is a senior high school student who is now 17 years old. Ever since his mother died of breast cancer, life has been one storm after another. His father works abroad, sending money for Chen's schooling, but every day, he feels farther and farther away from his son. Chen cannot focus in class and is haunted by loneliness, guilt, and pressure to succeed for his family's sake.
One day, Chen's English teacher, Ms. Alina, assigns him a reflective essay because he seems to be slipping. Reluctantly, Chen sits down and writes from his heart onto the paper. Through this piece of writing, he relates to Jia, a classmate who turns out to be very compassionate while sharing her experience of having lost one of her parents. Her friend leans on her for support.
Meanwhile, there is Chen's childhood friend Miguel, who continues to pull Chen out of his shell, remembering their shared dreams. Luna is the spirited school athlete who promotes Chen to become a member of the running club, and suddenly he finds this endurance sport thrilling. Mr. Tan, this wise school counselor, guides him through his anguish.
As Chen starts to heal, he is reunited with his dad through heartfelt video calls. He comes to realize that they both carry the same pain. With support from friends like Sophia, Rafi, Elena, Kai, Maya, Dante, Zara, and Leo, Chen eventually learns that strength lies within vulnerability. At the end of the year, Chen gives a great valediction speech before honoring his mother's memory and embracing a hope of a brighter tomorrow at the school's end.
